Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)​

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a mental illness in which you are overly obsessed with maintaining order and following rules. If things don’t work out the way that you feel comfortable with, you are likely to feel angry, irritated and annoyed. You can only make decisions within an established set of rules and known circumstances, but when rules and established procedures don’t dictate the situation, you get stuck in a time consuming and complicated decision making process. This often gets so out of hand that you never get started on any of your commitments. You are likely to be a high achiever and want things done in exactly the way you want them.

If you have OCPD, you have difficulty expressing your emotions, are stiff and formal in normal situations and hold back your thoughts until you are sure that you are saying the right thing. You may also get easily riled up about something and rather than expressing your anger about the situation, choose to express it about a different issue entirely. Sometimes you may get unjustifiably angry about a minor issue.

OCPD normally manifests itself in adulthood, and is fairly uncommon in children and teenagers. It is a genetic disorder which means that having a family history often causes it, along with environmental factors. It occurs among both men and women but is more common in the former. ​

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is different from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), although the two are often used interchangeably. While OCPD manifests itself as the need to gain control and order over things and is a  personality disorder, OCD on the other hand is an anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by obsessions (unwanted thoughts and ideas) and compulsions (behaviours one may see necessary to adopt).

When to seek expert advise

If you are extremely concerned with rules and order, to the extent that it affects your decision making and relationships, you may be suffering from obsessive compulsive personality disorder. If such symptoms manifest themselves, seek help from your doctor working with the at Department of Psychiatry​.The Aga Khan University Hospital. You can safely and privately discuss your symptoms, gain advice and receive personalized treatment and care.​