Relationship of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The nature of the relationship between obsessive-compulsive personality and obsessive-compulsive disorder has been the subject of considerable debate. The present article dealt with clinical opinion and reviewed empirical data bearing on this issue. It was concluded that, although the two clinical entities bear a surface similarity in terms of shared behavioral features and defenses, obsessive-compulsive personality is neither a necessary nor sufficient factor in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder, though the latter appears to be more frequently associated with premorbid obsessive-compulsive personality patterns than with other personality patterns. Suggestions for future research study are made.

Relations between perfectionism and obsessive–compulsive symptoms: Examination of specificity among the dimensions

“…Unfortunately, the nature of this relation has been murky due to a blurring of the distinction Freud (1917) made between the constructs now labeled OCD and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)-only the latter of which includes perfectionism as a formal diagnostic criterion (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Generally, however, research has established the independence of OCD and OCPD (Pollak, 1987), allowing for specific clarification of OCD-personality associations. Wu, Clark, and Watson (2006) found that whereas a unique OCD-OCPD relation was not supported, certain personality traits (e.g., very low impulsivity) distinguished individuals with OCD versus a primarily depressed group.…”

A Controlled Family Study of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

“…48 Our study is the first, to our knowledge, to investigate OCPD among the relatives of women with EDs. Rates were elevated among relatives of AN probands, irrespective of the presence of OCPD among the probands themselves.…”

Parenting style and obsessive‐compulsive symptoms and personality traits in a student sample

“…The checking, washing, and other compulsive rituals of OCD have been viewed as pathological intrusions into an otherwise intact personality. OCPD is generally less impairing than OCD, and may be one of the less impairing of the personality disorders, since these traits may be adaptive, especially in certain occupational realms (Pollak, 1987). Interestingly, the two disorders share behavioural features, including emotional constriction, self-doubt, low risk-taking, indecisiveness, and perfectionism.…”

“…Surveys of the incidence of comorbidity reveal that OCPD is not a necessary or sufficient factor in development of OCD. Still, individuals with OCPD traits are likely to be more prone to OCD than individuals without these traits (Pollak, 1987). Samuels et al (2000) reported that OCD patients and their first-degree relatives demonstrated an increased incidence of OCPD relative to control subjects and their first-degree relations.…”

“…OCD may represent an exacerbation of preexisting OC traits or extensions or disruptions of this personality style (Pollak, 1987). However, there is a sizeable number of OCD patients who lack salient premorbid OC traits.…”