Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is usually grouped with anxiety disorders. OCD consists of two components – obsessive thinking and compulsive actions.

The textbook example is someone who compulsively washes their hands. This person may obsess about germs or dirt. In order to stop these thoughts they wash their hands. When the thoughts return they wash their hands again. These compulsive actions can become ritualised. Persons with OCD may believe that they must turn the light switch off exactly seven times in order to be certain that is really off.

OCD is presently treated with antidepressant medications and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has proven to be highly effective. The client is given the opportunity to explore their behavioural patterns, his or her thought processes, feelings, dreams and behaviour. The aim is to alleviate individuals’ distress by helping them to understand their inner conflicts and to find new ways of dealing with them.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is described as a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. Sufferers of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Are preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules, to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
• Show perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g. are unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
• Are excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships
• Are over conscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values
• Are reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
• Adopt miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
• Shows rigidity and stubbornness

Having some obsessive-compulsive personality traits can pay off. Students and employees who are “excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships” can be very productive.

Psychotherapy can be helpful to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy has proven to be highly effective. The client is given the opportunity to explore their behavioural patterns, his or her thought processes, feelings, dreams and behaviour. The aim is to alleviate individuals’ distress by helping them to understand their inner conflicts and to find new ways of dealing with them.

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