Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder?

Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:59:56 +0000

We all have that one friend who will re-fold laundry that wasn’t folded “perfectly,” or who will obsess over a crooked painting on the wall with the excuse of, “sorry, it’s my OCD!” While crooked photos and wrinkled sheets are annoying, the realities of Obsessive- Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) stretch past organizational quirks and can be rather debilitating.

Those struggling with this disorder are described as having a “preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control,” to such an extreme that when completing ordinary tasks, people need strict, clear-cut instructions; otherwise, prioritizing and organizing can be laborious, and, at times, quite agonizing. In fact, those affected can struggle with a decision with such intensity, that the job may never get completed at all.

These inhibitions can thus lead to frustration and anger when the individual is unable to gain control of their bodily and/or social environment, which can result in passive-aggressive outbursts or sanctimonious exasperation over very minute issues.

Intimate and social relationships can suffer, as expressions of tenderness are generally restrained and artificial. It can prove an uncomfortable situation for those with OCPD to be involved with someone who is very emotionally expressive. In addition, social and professional relationships are often formal, staid, and rigid.

The symptoms of OCPD begin to appear in early adulthood and are manifested as follows:

Preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
Show of perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g. is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
Excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)
Overly conscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)
Inability to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value
Reluctance to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
Adoption of a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
Show of significant rigidity and stubbornness

Most individuals with OCPD never seek out treatment until it becomes so debilitating that he or she is unable to move forward with everyday life, and the only way to make an accurate diagnosis is through a trained mental health professional.

It is unknown what factors directly affect the development of this personality disorder, however, psychologists tend to use the biopsychosocial model of causation to better understand genetic and social factors that could have contributed to the onset, as well as psychological factors, such as personality, temperament, and coping skills. OCPD is two times as prevalent in males than females and makes up 2.1-7.9% of the population.

The only effective treatment for individuals dealing with this personality disorder is extended psychotherapy, although medications can be prescribed for certain symptoms that are incapacitating. Like most personality disorders, intensity of the symptoms tends to wane with age, having the most severe symptoms decreased substantially by 40-50 years of age.

In popular culture, it is hard to find accurate portrayals of OCPD in the media, as many of these depictions lean more towards OCD, rather than OCPD. Nevertheless, in the 1968 movie “The Odd Couple,” character Felix Unger is a rather close example of someone with the personality disorder. His meticulous obsessions infiltrate into every aspect of his life; as a career photographer, every detail is accounted for and ensured to be nothing less that perfection. In his dating life, Felix holds his romantic interests to extreme standards, expecting them to look and act to his exact preference. He indulges in his hobbies with neurotic-level perfection, partaking in each interest with a particular way. One example of his meticulous compulsions is demonstrated while cooking; not a splash is to fall out of the pan, and everything has to turn out perfect for him to feel satisfied. While these habits might seem like a headache to keep up with, it is in turn what provides Felix’s OCPD with some peace of mind.

Does this sound like someone in your life?

Contact us for support at drkatrina@kkjpsych.com.

What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:19:51 +0000

In the age of social media, constant validation through likes, subscribers, and selfies has added a new term to the vocabulary of modern society: narcissistic. While the Greek god Narcissus is well known for glancing one too many times in the mirror, and those who are obsessive over their exterior appearance often coin the term of being a “narcissist,” only a few number of people fall under the category as having Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

While the Greek god Narcissus is well known for glancing one too many times in the mirror, and those who are obsessive over their exterior appearance often coin the term of being a “narcissist,” only a few number of people fall under the category as having Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

Individuals affected by NPD generally are unaware that he or she is narcissistic. While they certainly don’t shy away from the idea of being overly self-centered, those with NPD believe that they are of a higher class of people than the “average” layperson. It is not uncommon for those with NPD to actively pursue a career of high esteem or fame, because this coincides with their belief that they deserve to be admired, adored, and paid attention to. Before you go rattling off a list of names of people you consider to be chronic attention-seekers, understand that NPD goes deeper than simply posting selfies every few hours.

Those with NPD are generally described as having a larger-than-life sense of self. They have fantasies of themselves achieving high accolades and strive to maintain social relationships with those they consider to be of a more elite status, talented, and exceptional. Individuals with this disorder are often arrogant and self-centered, and can be manipulative and demanding when pursuing something they believe should be theirs. They have no trouble stepping on others to get to where they want to go and can do so without showing any remorse or empathy for those they harm.

According to the DSM-5, those with NPD will generally exhibit 5 or more of the following symptoms:

Grandiose sense of self-importance
Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
Belief that one is special and can only be understood by or associated with special people
Need for excessive admiration
Sense of entitlement
Exploitation of others
Lack of empathy
Envy of others
Arrogant, haughty behavior or attitude

While someone with NPD strongly believes in his or her self-proclaimed grandiosity, it is common to see them easily beaten down. They don’t take well to criticism or defeat and can lash out in fury or derision when confronted with criticism. It is not uncommon to see someone with NDP withdraw from society or turn to substance abuse when confronted with constant disparagement. Sometimes, individuals with NPD can develop mood and/or anxiety disorders in response to feelings of rejection.

It is unknown what definitively causes NPD, we do understand that childhood abuse and neglect can contribute to the development of this disorder. While this can help provide some empathy for those who have NPD, they are quite difficult to engage with, and, treatment for this disorder can be rather difficult. Mostly, those affected believe they are normal, and that others are the problem, which can make it difficult to assess their behavior and make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Psychotherapy can potentially prove beneficial in helping those with NPD, but given their tendency to reject criticism, those who are confronted with psychotherapy and the idea that they suffer from a personality disorder can cause them to push back defensively and aggressively. Individuals with NPD don’t like feeling vulnerable and pointing out negative behavior can lead to rejection and anger.

To demonstrate NPD in modern society, take a look at Leonardo DiCaprio’s leading role in “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

In this film, he plays Jordan Belcher, a successful Wall Street investor who is obsessed with fame, money, and making sure he is always the man at the top.

He is self-obsessed and is willing to step on anyone he needs to in order for his wildest dreams to come to fruition. Often lashing out at his wife and others with expletives and threats, he cheats, cons, and swindles anyone he can if it allows for his own success and self-worth to expand. He is very manipulative and reacts in childlike tantrums whenever he is rejected. His extreme narcissism ends up leading him into a run-in with the FBI after he falls under investigation for fraud.

With defamation looming as a constant foreboding presence, Jordan Belcher begins turning to drugs more heavily than before and lashes out in angry outbursts when he can’t manipulate the situation. While this movie is an extreme example, it helps demonstrate how harmful it can be to be surrounded by someone who has NPD.

Need help coping with someone in your life who has NPD?
Contact drkatrina@kkjpsych.com for help.

npd – KKJ Forensic & Psychological Services

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder?

What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?