Your personality is your unique way of thinking, understanding, reacting, and relating to people.
A personality disorder Overview of Personality Disorders Your personality is your unique way of thinking, understanding, reacting, and relating to people. Many people might seem to have an unusual personality. But they're considered to have a personality... read more is not just an unusual personality. It's when your personality traits cause significant problems in your life or keep you from relating normally to others.
What is obsessive-compulsive personality disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is:
A pattern of needing things to be orderly and perfect and to do things a certain way
People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often:
Take an unusual interest in rules, schedules, and lists
Focus on being careful and neat
Stubbornly need to be in control and plan everything
Are inflexible and don't like change
Focus on details instead of what's important
Resist getting help from others
Are very rigid in their values and don't make exceptions
Lots of people like an orderly life and try to get details right. However, these kinds of behaviors can become a disorder when too much planning and inflexibility get in the way of relationships or keep people from completing normal tasks.
People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often also have depression Depression Depression is feeling too sad or sluggish to do your daily tasks or take part in activities you usually enjoy. It’s normal to feel sad after something sad happens, such as a death or loss—depression... read more or abuse alcohol Alcohol Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant. Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma, and death. Genetics and personal characteristics may... read more .
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is different from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Obsessions are things you just can't stop thinking about, even if you want to. They could be worries, ideas, images, or urges to do something. Having an obsession usually makes you anxious and... read more . Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves unwanted thoughts and repeated actions that are upsetting to the person who has the disorder. In obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, people aren't upset because they believe their habits are helping them reach their goals.
What causes OCPD?
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is probably caused by traits that run in families, such as perfectionism.
How do doctors treat OCPD?
Doctors treat obsessive-compulsive personality disorder with:
Therapy
Sometimes, antidepressant medicines
