ABC Primetime had a special back in August on OCD Kids where they focused on several different kids suffering from Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Michelle’s fear of other students being contaminated kept her out school for 4 months. Her fear of germs controlled her life even at home, she was afraid to touch anything, because it was contaminated and showered continually. She even had to wash the washing machine before she could wash her clothes.
Here is a look at Michelle from the video series. I will be posting more videos from the series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/5jOKtTyulXQ
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder is often confused with the better-known Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Despite this, these are entirely different disorders. In this article, I will describe this often misunderstood personality disorder, as well as explain some of the differences between OCPD and OCD.
The defining feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a fixation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control. This disorder generally begins by early adulthood. Individuals who have Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder try to maintain a sense of control through meticulous focus on rules, unimportant details, procedures, lists, schedules, or form (DSM-IV-TR, 2000).
People with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder often get so caught-up in minor details that they fail to complete necessary tasks. These individuals are extremely careful and prone to repetition, paying close attention to detail and inspect their work repeatedly for mistakes. OCPD patients are usually oblivious to the level of frustration that others experience when this scrutiny leads to delays or incomplete tasks.
Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder tend to manage their time very poorly. Someone with OCPD may spend hours looking for a lost item, rather than simply moving on and looking for it later. Repeating tasks over and over also “wastes” a lot of time. This extreme perfectionism experienced by OCPD patients can lead to major distress and dysfunction.
Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder may be overly conscientious, scrupulous, and rigid in matters of morality, ethics, or values (DSM-IV-TR). Rules and regulations are very important to OCPD patients, as well. They frequently insist on literal compliance with any rules, with no exceptions. This rigidness often causes interpersonal difficulties, as OCPD patients often attempt to force their beliefs on those around them. There is one “correct” way to do things, and are not willing to listen to other people’s ideas.