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Comorbidity between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and personality disorders
S Bejerot1, L Ekselius, L von Knorring
1Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|July 21, 1998
Summary
Most patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have coexisting personality disorders, often characterized by higher anxiety and irritability. These findings highlight the complex interplay between OCD and personality traits.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition.
- The co-occurrence of personality disorders in OCD patients is frequently observed but not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of personality disorders in patients diagnosed with OCD.
- To identify specific personality traits associated with comorbid personality disorders in OCD using the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP).
Main Methods:
- Study included 36 patients diagnosed with OCD.
- Personality disorders were assessed using DSM-III-R criteria.
- Personality traits were evaluated using the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP).
Main Results:
- A high frequency of personality disorders was found, with 75% of OCD patients meeting criteria.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder was present in 36% of the OCD cohort.
- Patients with comorbid personality disorders exhibited significantly higher scores on anxiety, indirect aggression, irritability, guilt, and detachment scales compared to those without personality disorders.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of personality disorders in OCD suggests a significant overlap.
- Comorbid personality disorders in OCD are associated with distinct personality trait profiles, particularly increased anxiety and emotional dysregulation.
- These findings underscore the importance of assessing and addressing personality pathology in the comprehensive treatment of OCD.