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Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (often called by its abreviation - OCPD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by rigid perfectionism, control, and inflexibility.
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The primary observable manifestation of OCPD is excessive worrying about the need to keep things in order, which leads to a compulsion to impose rigid prescribed methods and hygenicistic routines of order. Listed below are some of the symptoms of OCPD which usually begins in early middle age.
Perfectionism is a hallmark of OCPD, which, coupled with the other obsessive tendencies, causes people to set preposterously lofty goals. Individuals may attempt themselves so single-mindedly to achieve perfection that certain other activities may be detrimental or they may feel as if nothing is reinforced by their benchmarking criteria. As a result, this leaves individuals in a state of helplessness and feeling other negative emotions when their mental model of how “it ought to be” doesn’t happen.
Workaholism is characteristic of OCPD. Many people tend to assume that productivity or work as a central focus leads to ‘good’ and/or befitted interpersonal relationships, engaging with turn as hobbies and relaxation. Individuals constantly feel that they must be hard at work or engaged in some kind of activity to feel positive and believe that leisure or pastimes are unworthy endeavors.
While it is helpful to be greatly devoted, it can also result in stress, burnout, and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Inflexibility is a common symptom of OCPD. Individuals often deal with having a rigid-rule bound approach to life which leads them to struggle with adapting to new situations and gaining different viewpoints or perspectives. They insist on doing things in a very specific way. This can take place in both personal and professional settings. Their resistance to compromise and change can cause challenges and difficulty functioning in dynamic environments.
When it comes to hoarding and OCPD, this is a deep-seated need for control and frugality. Individuals with OCPD often struggle to discard items even if they have no use or value. They fear they may need the item sometime in the future so they keep the item based on the off chance. This behavior can lead to cluttered spaces, difficulty maintaining order, and frustrations for others having to deal with it.
Rigid control and emotional rigidity are also key traits of OCPD which is the severe need to maintain control and order in all aspects of life. Rigid control means individuals struggle with fearing themselves and others may not meet the high expectations they set and expect. This causes them to become upset or frustrated when things don’t go as they planned. This also contributes to an individual's emotions. Individuals with OCPD prioritize logic over feelings that could lead them to be seen as unempathetic, however it is due to the difficulty they have expressing affection.
OCPD can also include symptoms such as perceiving everything in “black and white” also known as dichotomous thinking and becoming hyper fixated on a single idea, task, or belief. Individuals with OCPD may over focus on others flaws especially if they don’t align with their expectations of them and may also have difficulty coping with criticism.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder can lead to significant difficulties in one’s personal and professional life, if left untreated. They may push themselves beyond reasonable limits which can have long-term consequences such as isolating themselves to stay focused on work productivity and strain relationships with friends, family, or coworkers. Untreated OCPD may lead to depression and intense anxiety when things go unplanned consistently or expectations aren’t met either by others or themselves.
Overall, OCPD becomes worse over time, making it harder to realize and identify the negative traits and behaviors since they appear confident and highly organized. Sometimes their OCPD may work in their favor, typically in certain work settings. However, it is the inability to compromise or change that typically will affect them negatively which can impact their lives deeply.
Treatments can be difficult for those with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder because many who have OCPD don’t think their behaviors are problematic since they have been behaving that way for most, if not all, their adult life. Most individuals seek help for other issues that cause them to realize they also have OCPD. Below are a few treatments for OCPD.
This type of psychotherapy is the most effective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals recognize and change rigid thought processes and helps them discover and develop new thought patterns that help turn negative behaviors into positive ones.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can also be beneficial for OCPD. It helps develop emotional availability, flexibility, and focuses on improving relationships and reducing rigid thinking. DBT helps reduce black and white thinking and helps individuals cope with stress so they can focus on their emotions and gain self-compassion.
Mindfulness is a holistic approach to many personality and mental health disorders and conditions. Mindfulness helps the individual become more aware of their emotions, thoughts, and helps people stay present and accept imperfections. This can be done with breathing exercises, gratitude reflection, and grounding exercises.
There is no specific medication designed to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder at this time, however the medication usually prescribed treats symptoms associated with other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Therapy is key for OCPD and medication can go alongside therapy.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder is OCPD. As a mental health condition, it involves a complex and severe need for perfection, control, and order which may harm the person’s relationships.
OCD is concerning while OCPD is better understood as a personality disorder. While having intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors as a way out of anxiety captures the essence of OCD, OCPD captures rigid thinking along with control and management issues.
The underlying causes seem to be genetics or past trauma, but because predetermining factors differ from personality disorder to personality disorder, pinpointing an exact cause proves elusive.
OCPD and OCD are different conditions at their core but contain overlapping traits. Instead of defining them as different conditions, think of them as manifestations of a single disorder. OCPD is a personality condition that has an impact on how a person functions throughout the day, while OCD is focused on uncontrollable thoughts and actions.
An individual with OCPD is diagnosed after going through an assessment, which contains a specific set of questions and situations. The mental health professional then analyzes the person’s thoughts and actions over a specific time frame and their corresponding relationships.
No, for any condition, whether it is a disorder or a mental health condition, professional help is crucial.
Yes. OCPD causes the constant pursuit of perfection and control which in turn, causes mass amounts of anxiety that can lead to stress and depression, especially when expectations aren’t met.
There is no “cure”, however therapy can help individuals develop the skills needed to break bad habits and improve relationships. With the right treatment, symptoms can be managed and you can lead a fulfilling life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective route. This psychotherapy helps you learn about and unlearn the rigid thought patterns that have taken over your life. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can also help with emotional regulation and interpersonal skills.
OCPD traits typically come into play as a young adult and grow consistently over time, growing more evident with age.
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Take the first step toward regaining balance and control in your life. Call our therapists who specialize in OCPD and start your journey toward greater flexibility, well-being, and peace of mind.
