Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder and an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and persistent intrusive thoughts and impulses that are NOT recognizable as problematic by the sufferer.

OCPD involves obsession and compulsion that results in the need for orderliness (i.e. the order demanded by the sufferer).

In OCPD, adult patients will not recognize their thoughts and behaviors as unreasonable. They will often times think it is normal, and will be surprised that everyone else doesn't have the same obsession/compulsions as they do. This contrasts with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), where the patient experiences compulsion and recognizes it as problematic themselves. The two require very different forms of treatment.

Because children are inherently unable to rationalize their issues, they are never diagnosed with OCPD; they will be diagnosed with OCD instead.

For more information on what OCD and OCPD share in common, visit the page on OCD.