Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

About Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder is a long standing pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency. People may be so focused on rules, lists and details that the main point of an activity is lost, may struggle to complete tasks because standards are never met, may be devoted to work to the exclusion of leisure and friendships, and may find it difficult to delegate. Despite the similar name, it is distinct from obsessive compulsive disorder, which involves unwanted intrusive thoughts and compulsions; the traits in this personality disorder are usually experienced as reasonable by the person, though the two conditions can co occur. It is considered one of the more commonly diagnosed personality disorders in community samples. Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic approaches, is the main treatment, and it often focuses on flexibility, perfectionism and relationships.