1. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
By: Katherine Lopez

2. Definition
A condition in which a person is preoccupied with rules, orderliness and control.
It means a person becomes preoccupied with uncontrollable patterns of thought and behavior.

3. Associated Features Often have a negative outlook on life.
Feels in charge and the only one who knows what is right.
Spends considerable time putting everything in precisely the right place in precisely the right manner.

4. Associated Features DSM-IV-TR Criteria
A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
1. Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.

5. Associated Features
2.) Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
3. Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships.
4. Is over conscientious, scrupulous, and flexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values.
5. Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value.

6. Associated Features
6. Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things.
7. Adopts a miserly spending style toward self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
8. Shows rigidity and stubbornness.

7. Etiology
Researchers today don’t know what causes obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. There are many theories however some causes may be genetic factors, social factors or psychological factors.

8. Prevalence
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is more common in men than it is in women.

9. Treatment
Some treatment for this disorder is long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder. Medications may also be prescribed.

10. Prognosis
The outlook for people with OCPD tends to be better than any other personality disorder because the self-imposed rigidness and control of OCPD may prevent many of the complications such as drug abuse, which are common in the other personality disorders.
However, the social isolation common with this illness may lead to feelings of depression later in life.

11. References
Halgin, Rp., & Whitebourne, Sk (2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: Mc Grawhill.
Psych Central Staff. (2011). Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. Retrieved from
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. (2008, October 17) The New York Times. Retrieved from Times Health Guide.

12. Discussion Question
How can we tell if someone has Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder or if they just like to be organized?