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Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety disorder that presents with persistent or recurring thoughts or behaviors that are usually upsetting and disruptive of a person’s normal routine in life. The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder range from mild to severe and can cause effects that are either chronic or disabling.

Signs and Symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder

People who have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder will often know that their compulsions or obsessions are not realistic. However, they are often not sure if their behavior is unrealistic. In most cases people with obsessive-compulsive disorder will try to overcome their behaviors and thoughts or at the very least hide it from other people around them. In most cases obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a chronic condition where the signs and symptoms will come and go over a period of time. In severe cases obsessive-compulsive disorder can be disabling to an individual since they may not be able to function at work, school or home.

The signs and symptoms of an obsession are as follows:

• Experiencing repetitive ideas, thoughts or impulses. These can be either wanted to unwanted. This is typically a fear of some sort such as harm to self, contamination and a need to do things perfectly.
• The repetitive obsessions may cause anxiety and it can be difficult to stop the obsessions.
• On occasion the repetitive obsessions will focus on violence, sex or illness.

The signs and symptoms of compulsions are as follows:

• Repetitive behaviors that are often linked to the obsessions or fear that they experience. Such as hand washing, counting, hoarding, rearranging of objects, mentally repeating phrases and list making.
• A belief that repeating these behaviors will prevent harm from happening to the individual or their close relatives.
• Some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder will have specific rituals that can either be strict or changing. These rituals are typically use to relieve anxiety but will often only help temporarily.

Causes of Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder

As with most anxiety related disorder doctors are still trying to understand what exactly causes obsessive-compulsive disorder so that they can develop more beneficial treatments. It used to be thought that obsessive-personality disorder was the result of a childhood experience. However, today doctors have found that medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors help decrease the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder which has led them to believe that the disorder is more neurological based. Studies have also been conducted to come up with a connection between obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and a person’s environment, beliefs and attitudes. Doctors do believe that more than one factor influences the cause of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder in people.

Treatment for Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder

Treatment usually uses medication, behavior therapy or a combination of the two. Neurotransmitter medications that affect serotonin have shown the best results in reducing the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. The FDA has approved three specific drugs for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, these are Prozac, Luvox and Paxil. Behavior therapy focuses on the exposure and response prevention. This is when a person confronts the object or thought that causes the fear to provoke obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Doctors will use visualizations and guidelines to help a person stop their rituals and repetitive nature. However, in order for this form of therapy to work the individual must be motivated and the therapist much be specifically trained in using this approach.

Getting Help for Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorder

If you believe you have obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and would like to seek out treatment the first thing you should do is talk with your general physician. They will be able to give you a referral to a mental health professional that will meet your needs. If your doctor cannot give you any referrals then you can check with local hospitals or psychiatry departments to find the necessary information to choose your own mental health professional.

Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Personality Disorder NOS

Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

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