Anxious Personality Disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Individuals with these disorders often appear anxious or fearful, and like the other personality disorders, the generalized patterns described below typically begin in early adulthood, and are present in various contexts.

Obsessive-Complusive Personality Disorder

An individual with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder is preoccupied with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. This pattern is indicated by four (or more) of the following (from DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

     1.is overly concerned with details, rules, lists, order, 
       organization, or schedules such that the major point of 
       the activity is lost

     2.is unable to complete a project because his or her own 
       overly strict standards are not met

     3.excessive emphasis on work and productivity such that 
       leisure activities and friendships are devalued (not 
       accounted for by obvious economic need)

     4.is overly conscientious and inflexible about issues 
       involving morality, ethics, or values (not accounted 
       for by cultural or religious identification)  

     5.is unable to throw out worn-out or worthless objects 
       despite lack of emotional value

     6.is reluctant to delegate tasks or work with others unless 
       they agree to exactly his or her way of doing things

     7.adopts a stingy spending style toward both self and 
       others; money is seen as something to be gathered for 
       future catastrophes

     8.rigidity and stubbornness




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