COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Causes

No single cause of this condition has been identified. Many theories suggest that people with this condition were raised by emotionally unavailable parents who were excessively controlling or overprotective. They may also have been severely punished during childhood. The traits of this condition may have developed as a kind of defense mechanism to avoid punishment by being ‘perfect’ and obedient. Genetic factors may play a role, but so far much research has been conducted on this. Cultural factors may also influence the development of the disorder. Communities or religions that are highly authoritarian and restricted by strict rules may affect personality development in early childhood. At the same time, it is important to remember that not all rule-based communities are dysfunctional.

Symptoms

• Excessive dedication to work that disrupts social and family life,
• Excessive focus on lists, rules, and small details,
• Perfectionism that interferes with completing tasks,
• Strict adherence to moral and ethical rules,
• Reluctance to delegate tasks to other people unless they do them exactly as requested,
• Lack of generosity, excessive and unjustified saving,
• Collecting things.

A diagnosis of this condition is made when the above characteristics lead to significant impairment in social, professional, and/or family functioning.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of this condition, at least three of the following criteria must be met:

• Preoccupation with details, rules, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the essential purpose of the activity is lost,
• Showing perfectionism that interferes with task completion (for example, being unable to complete a project because one’s excessively strict standards have not been met),
• Excessive devotion to work and productivity at the expense of leisure time and friendships, not caused by clear economic necessity,
• Excessive conscientiousness, scrupulousness, and low flexibility in matters of morality, ethics, and values, not arising from cultural or religious identity,
• Inability to throw away used or worthless items, even when they have no emotional value,
• Unwillingness to delegate tasks or work to others unless they fully submit to the methods of implementation imposed by us,
• Miserly spending style toward oneself and others; money is seen as something to be saved for future disasters,
• Showing rigidity and stubbornness.

Treatment

Treatment primarily consists of long-term psychotherapy. In addition, medication may be used for pronounced mood problems (such as depression) or for pronounced obsessive and compulsive traits. Usually, these will be medications from the group of so-called antidepressants.