Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Before you understand what is OCPD I am writing down a summary of a patient suffering from OCPD.

"A 26-year-old woman has a lifetime preoccupation with rules, work, order, and stinginess. Even so, she is in trouble at work because she keeps missing deadlines and has difficulty making decisions. The patient does not realize that she is the cause of her problems—rather, she blames them on others. She comes across as rigid and stubborn in manner and does not like any change in her schedule.

She is a case of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.

This patient’s problems fit into a personality disorder in that she is inflexible in her thinking or behavior, which causes problems in her social or work settings. Typically (as in this case) the patient’s disorder is egosyntonic; that is, she does not recognize her problems originating from within himself but rather blames on others in the outside world. Also, she is stingy with her money, although she works many hours a week. She seems somewhat moralistic about others and about their work habits, especially when they are compared to her own. No obsessions (intrusive, repetitive thoughts) or compulsions (ritualistic behaviors) are noted that are typical of OCD.

Interventions

Individuals with this disorder do best when treated with a scientific approach and should be provided with documentary evidence and details.

There are very few treatments effective for personality disorders such as this. At times, cognitive interventions can be very well received, leading to a lessening of some maladaptive behavior. For example, a patient can be confronted with a key assumption such as “I must be perfectly in control at all times,” and this assumption can then be discussed and ways created to refute it.