Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is one of the 10 specific types of personality disorder diagnosed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). A personality disorder is considered to be a pattern of long standing behaviors, patterns of relating to others, and ways of perceiving and thinking about the world. These traits are usually considered to start developing in adolescence and remain stable throughout most of a person’s life. However, new research has challenged whether or not these traits remain consistent throughout an entire lifetime.
People with OCPD tend to be perfectionists who are excessively dedicated to work and productivity. They are often self-righteous and determined to be in control. They demand order, structure, and rules. They like details, procedures, and specified objectives. People with OCPD have trouble delegating tasks to others because they do not believe that anyone can accomplish the task as well as they can. They almost always live well below their means and can be viewed as miserly because of fear of future financial calamities that they envision in their minds.
They also find it hard to relax or play. Leisure activities are stifled by adherence to perfection and mastery. For example, if they decide to travel abroad, they may spend huge amounts of time studying the local culture, history, and language of their destination. Not that these aren’t wonderful things to do in planning a trip, but someone with OCPD can drain all of the joy out of a trip by making it more like work than recreation.
Others describe them as plodding, rigid, and uptight. They may become passively angry or indignant over minor mishaps. Emotional expression is muted and people with OCPD may avoid showing love or tenderness.
A recent article in the Journal of Personality Disorders (2009) by Ulrich and Coid found that the rates of OCPD traits actually increase with age. Although it is an interesting finding, there are not enough studies to guess on the reason why this occurs. Perhaps we all become more structured, rigid, and rule bound as we age. By contrast, this article and other research suggests that other personality disorders appear to subside as people age.
Although Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and OCPD have similar names, there are significant differences. First, those with OCD spend considerable time engaged in obsessions and compulsions (see some of our earlier, recent blogs on obsessions and compulsions). And people with OCD almost always feel highly distressed by their symptoms and often seek treatment.
The rules and procedures that are followed by a person with OCPD are not distressing or uncontrolled. Therefore, those with OCPD see no reason to get treatment for their issues. People with OCPD believe that they are living life exactly the way it should be lived.
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