Abnormal Psychology

618 CHAPTER 13

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder have diffi culty acknowledging the per-

spectives of others, as is true of Mr. V in Case 13.11. Table 13.26 provides addi-

tional information about this disorder.

Prevalence

• Approximately 1–8% of the general population has obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
  (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Grant, Hasin, et al., 2004).


• Around 3–10% of people receiving treatment in mental health clinics have obsessive-
  compulsive personality disorder.
  Comorbidity


• People with an anxiety disorder are more likely to develop obsessive-compulsive personality
  disorder than are members of the general population.


• Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not also have obsessive- compulsive
  personality disorder.
  Onset


• The diagnostic criteria specify that symptoms must emerge by early adulthood.
  Course


• Symptoms of up to a third of patients may improve over time to the point that they no longer
  meet the diagnostic criteria (Grilo et al., 2004).
  Gender Differences


• Twice as many men as women are diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
  Source: Unless otherwise noted, citations should be American Psychiatric Association, 2000.

Table 13.26 • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality

Disorder Facts at a Glance

CASE 13.11 • FROM THE OUTSIDE:

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Mr. V, a 25-year-old philosophy graduate student, began twice-weekly psychotherapy. His

presenting complaint was diffi culty with completing work effectively, particularly writing

tasks, due to excessive anxiety and obsessionality.... When he came for treatment, he was

struggling to make progress on his master’s thesis. Although Mr. V socialized quite a bit, he

reported that intimate relationships often felt “wooden.” He was usually overcommitted, with

an endless list of “shoulds” that he would constantly mentally review and remind himself how

much he was failing to satisfy his obligations. A central theme throughout treatment was his

tendency to be self-denigrating, loathing himself as a person deserving of punishment in

some way yet being extremely provocative.... He also held very strong political beliefs, sure

that his way of viewing things was superior to others.

(Bender, 2005, p. 413)

Some workaholics have obsessive-compulsive

personality disorder: They are perfectionistic and

extremely orderly and organized. However, they

can become so preoccupied with doing a job per-

fectly that they are ineffi cient or can’t complete

the task. Moreover, when problems arise, they

can be rigid and infl exible.

Photodisc/Getty Images

Distinguishing Between Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorder and Other Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is distinguished from OCD by the ab-

sence of true obsessions and compulsions. Rather, those with obsessive-compulsive

personality disorder are preoccupied with details—as was Mr. V when writing his

master’s thesis—and are infl exible. Researchers are still trying to determine whether

obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and OCD differ quantitatively or quali-

tatively. Research studies addressing this question have reported mixed fi ndings

(Albert et al., 2004; Eisen et al., 2006; Wu, Clark, & Watson, 2006). Most people

with one of the two disorders do not have the other (Mancebo et al., 2005).