title: Personality differences between obsessive-compulsive disorder subtypes: washers versus checkers.
abstract: Personality differences between 'washer' and 'checker' subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were explored. Fifty-one OCD patients were recruited from several outpatient clinics in Central Israel. OCD was diagnosed according to DSM-III-R using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, and personality disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders. Washers were much more likely to have personality disorders than checkers. Personality disorders were diagnosed in 12 of 13 washers vs. three of 11 checkers (chi 2 = 10.75, Fisher's exact test, P < 0.001, d.f. = 1, odds ratio = 32, CI = 2.8-365) and 21 of 27 patients with mixed OCD symptoms. The results support the validity of the washer-checker subdivision and might explain the relative refractoriness of washers to conventional intervention.
authors.affiliation: Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Department of Clinical Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horesh
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Dolberg
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kirschenbaum-Aviner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior