Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOCPD SymptomsManaging the Emotional Effects of OCPDOCPD TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
OCPD Symptoms
Managing the Emotional Effects of OCPD
OCPD Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)is a mental health condition that is estimated to affect about 2–8% of the general population. People with OCPD are preoccupied with rules, orderliness, and control. They tend to exhibit perfectionism, rigidity, and a high focus on details.
Read on to learn more about the features of OCPD and how it can lead to feelings of anger.
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The hallmark of OCPD is a preoccupation with rules, order, and control. This fixation can lead to a number of symptoms.
Anger Outbursts
People with OCPD may experience intense frustration or anger. This can occur when someone or something interferes with their rigid, self-imposed routines, rules, schedules, or timelines. Though people with OCPD tend to work hard at containing their emotions so as not to feel vulnerable, anger is often easier for them to express, and outbursts can happen.
A 2015 study of anger associated with personality disorders found that OCPD was second afteravoidant personality disorderin terms of the extent of anger and exhibited rates of anger on par with those ofborderline personality disorder.
Inflexibility
Inflexibility, rigidity, and control are some of the defining characteristics of OCPD. People with OCPD have very strict ideas on the right way of doing things and expect others to follow their lead. They may also have inflexible views on morality and ethics that they expect others to adhere to.
When something is at odds with these rigid beliefs, people with OCPD do not question themselves or seek alternatives but instead see fault or inadequacies with others or with external circumstances.
This rigidity, combined withperfectionism, can lead to missed deadlines and unfinished projects as a disproportionate amount of time and energy is spent on less important tasks.
Indecisiveness
The indecisiveness associated with OCPD often stems from perfectionism. People with OCPD have rigid standards, feel internal pressure to make “correct” choices, and have difficulty handling criticism. This can lead to struggles with making any decisions at all, as the same importance is placed on both simple and consequential tasks and choices.
This perfectionism can be projected onto others as well. A person with OCPD may have difficulty choosing a romantic partner because of their extremely high standards and tendency to bepreoccupied with their partner’s perceived flaws, even minor ones.
Depression
People with OCPD often experience inner turmoil that may not be noticeable to others. The inability to meet their own standards can cause self-hatred and disappointment in themselves.
Dichotomous thinking (thinking in absolutes like good or bad, without an in-between) is common in OCPD. Because a person with OCPD considers their standards and beliefs to be good, they may see any perceived fault, flaw, or failure as a blow to theirself-image.
Other
Other characteristics of OCPD include:
How Is OCPD Diagnosed?
A diagnosis of OCPD is made based on a mental health evaluation, including the nature and severity of the symptoms and how long the person has been experiencing them.
The markers a healthcare provider or mental health professional will look for include:
People with OCPD may not recognize that there is something wrong, insisting instead that any conflict is the fault of others.
People with OCPD are often high-achieving and professionally successful and appear to be doing well outwardly but are dealing with internal tension and struggles.
In addition to professional treatment for OCPD, some things that might help a person with OCPD manage the effects of their condition include:
Therapy is typically the preferred treatment for OCPD, but in some cases, medication may be prescribed to help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. Medication and therapy may be used together.
Types of therapy that may be used to treat OCPD include:
Summary
People with OCPD may be reluctant to seek help for their condition because they don’t recognize that something is wrong. However, treatments such as therapy can help ease inner turmoil and improve relationships.
A Word From Verywell
If the description of OCPD sounds like something you can relate to, talk to your healthcare provider.Working with a therapistcan help you understand why you feel the way you do and give you strategies to tackle your struggles.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with OCPD are often uncomfortable expressing their emotions or vulnerability.Anger and frustrationare more easily expressed than other emotions and can come out as outbursts.People with OCPD can experience significant anger or irritation when they are not able to maintain control of their environment.Addressing the underlying OCPD with a healthcare provider or a mental health professional is the most effective long-term way to manage anger from OCPD. In the moment, relaxation exercises andanger management strategiesmay help.
People with OCPD are often uncomfortable expressing their emotions or vulnerability.Anger and frustrationare more easily expressed than other emotions and can come out as outbursts.
People with OCPD can experience significant anger or irritation when they are not able to maintain control of their environment.
Addressing the underlying OCPD with a healthcare provider or a mental health professional is the most effective long-term way to manage anger from OCPD. In the moment, relaxation exercises andanger management strategiesmay help.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Steenkamp MM, Suvak MK, Dickstein BD, Shea MT, Litz BT.Emotional functioning in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: comparison to borderline personality disorder and healthy controls.Journal of Personality Disorders.2015;29(6):794-808. doi:10.1521/pedi_2014_28_174Diedrich A, Voderholzer U.Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder: a current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2015;17(2):2. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0547-8Seattle Anxiety Specialists.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).Sheppard Pratt.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull.2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aAustralian Institute of Professional Counsellors.Self-help strategies for OCD and OCPD.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Steenkamp MM, Suvak MK, Dickstein BD, Shea MT, Litz BT.Emotional functioning in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: comparison to borderline personality disorder and healthy controls.Journal of Personality Disorders.2015;29(6):794-808. doi:10.1521/pedi_2014_28_174Diedrich A, Voderholzer U.Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder: a current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2015;17(2):2. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0547-8Seattle Anxiety Specialists.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).Sheppard Pratt.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull.2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aAustralian Institute of Professional Counsellors.Self-help strategies for OCD and OCPD.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Steenkamp MM, Suvak MK, Dickstein BD, Shea MT, Litz BT.Emotional functioning in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: comparison to borderline personality disorder and healthy controls.Journal of Personality Disorders.2015;29(6):794-808. doi:10.1521/pedi_2014_28_174Diedrich A, Voderholzer U.Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder: a current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2015;17(2):2. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0547-8Seattle Anxiety Specialists.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).Sheppard Pratt.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull.2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366aAustralian Institute of Professional Counsellors.Self-help strategies for OCD and OCPD.
Mount Sinai.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Steenkamp MM, Suvak MK, Dickstein BD, Shea MT, Litz BT.Emotional functioning in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: comparison to borderline personality disorder and healthy controls.Journal of Personality Disorders.2015;29(6):794-808. doi:10.1521/pedi_2014_28_174
Diedrich A, Voderholzer U.Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder: a current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2015;17(2):2. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0547-8
Seattle Anxiety Specialists.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).
Sheppard Pratt.Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Rowland TA, Jainer AK, Panchal R.Living with obsessional personality.BJPsych Bull.2017;41(6):366-367. doi:10.1192/pb.41.6.366a
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.Self-help strategies for OCD and OCPD.
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