Obsessive compulsive personality disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder: clinical characteristics, diagnostic difficulties, and treatment.
BACKGROUND
The overlap between obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has received increasing recognition and continues to be a source of much debate. With the advent of new research methodologies, researchers have attempted to distinguish whether OCPD and OCD are two distinct phenomena that can co-occur or whether they are similar, overlapping constructs.


METHODS
MEDLINE was used to systematically review the OCPD and OCD literature published between 1991 and 2004.


RESULTS
Using the more stringent DSM-IV criteria, results from OCD clinical samples suggest that the majority of individuals with OCD (75%) do not have OCPD. Similarly, results from personality disorder samples suggest that the majority of individuals with OCPD (80%) do not have OCD.


CONCLUSIONS
While there is evidence that OCD and OCPD are linked, the literature does not support either one as a necessary or sufficient component of the other.
Mancebo
Maria C
MC
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA. MMancebo@Butler.org
Eisen
Jane L
JL
Grant
Jon E
JE
Rasmussen
Steven A
SA
D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy