Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCDP)

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Quick Summary:

While Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder (OCDP) sounds similar in name to obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder, the two are markedly different disorders. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are overly focused on orderliness and perfection. Their need to do everything "right" often interferes with their productivity. They tend to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture. They set unreasonably high standards for themselves and others, and tend to be very critical of others when they do not live up to these high standards. They avoid working in teams, believing others to be too careless or incompetent. They avoid making decisions because they fear making mistakes and are rarely generous with their time or money. They often have difficulty expressing emotion.

Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder:

• Need for perfection and excessive discipline
• Preoccupation with orderliness
• Inflexibility
• Lack of generosity
• Hyper-focus on details and rules
• Excessive devotion to work

Additional Information:

The potential for improvement with treatment is better for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder than for other personality disorders. A combination of medication and therapy tends to yield positive results.

Talk about this issue on our obsessive-compulsive forum.

Books on Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Update: These Relate to OCD (anxiety). OCPD Book List Coming Soon

Freedom From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty
"Dr. Jonathan Grayson's revolutionary program to help sufferers make sense of their own compulsions through frank, unflinching self-evaluation-providing the tools, instructions, and knowledge for changing their cycles of overwhelming fear and endless rituals, as well as the courage to do it."

The Ocd Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
"Bruce Hyman and Cherry Pedrick have created an intensive, self- directed program that teaches a person with OCD how to block or postpone rituals, reduce fears, and change unhealthy thought patterns."

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Survival Guide for Family and Friends
"Provides answers to the question- how do I try to help someone with OCD without hurting myself?"

Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals : The Hidden Epidemic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
"Ian Osborn, M.D., a specialist in OCD and a sufferer himself, has written the first comprehensive book on the experience, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD."

Where to Get More Help and Information

• MedlinePlus - Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
• Dual Diagnosis and the Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder