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Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and indicated by at least four of the following:

Preoccupied with details, rules, lists, organization or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.

Perfectionism interferes with task

Excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships.

Overconscientious, scrupulous and inflexible about morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religion)

Unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects, even if they have no sentimental value.

Reluctant to delegate tasks to others.

Miserly spending style toward both self and others

Rigidity and stubbornness

Clinical Features

Obsession with detail can paralyze decision making.

Tasks may be difficult to complete.

These patients are not openly affectionate

Obsesive patients are often very "frugal" in regard to financial matters.

Treatment