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Personality features of obsessive-compulsive disorder
R T Joffe1, R P Swinson, J J Regan
1Department of Psychiatry, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont., Canada.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Obsessive-compulsive disorder patients showed similar personality dysfunction compared to those with major depressive disorder. Mixed personality disorders were common in the obsessive-compulsive group, but not schizoid or compulsive types.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are distinct psychiatric conditions.
- Comorbid personality dysfunction is frequently observed in both OCD and MDD.
- Understanding shared and distinct personality traits is crucial for differential diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare personality dysfunction in patients with primary OCD versus patients with MDD.
- To identify specific personality disorder types and trait patterns associated with OCD.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 23 patients diagnosed with primary OCD.
- An age- and sex-matched control group of patients diagnosed with MDD.
- Assessment of personality traits and diagnosis of personality disorders using standardized criteria.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in mean personality trait scores between the OCD and MDD groups.
- The frequency and types of personality disorder diagnoses were comparable between the two groups.
- A mixed personality disorder, featuring avoidant, dependent, and passive-aggressive traits, was most prevalent in the OCD group.
- Schizoid or compulsive personality disorders were rarely observed in the OCD cohort.
Conclusions:
- Personality dysfunction profiles appear similar in patients with primary OCD and MDD.
- Avoidant, dependent, and passive-aggressive features characterize personality disorders more commonly seen in OCD patients.
- The study suggests limited diagnostic utility of specific personality disorders for differentiating primary OCD from MDD.