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Objectives: Few studies have investigated the relationship between stress‐related mental health problems and obsessive‐compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Similarly, little research has focused on the moderating effect of OCPD on recovery in clinical patients with stress‐related mental health problems. The general aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of OCPD and the associations between OCPD and level of burnout, anxiety, and depression symptoms, during a 7‐years follow‐up in a clinical longitudinal sample of female patients with stress‐related exhaustion. Method: The included patients (n = 84) were referred to a specialist outpatient clinic for patients with stress‐related exhaustion between 2006 and 2011. Data was collected at the initial examination and during a 7‐year treatment follow‐up. Results: OCPD was the most common personality disorder in the present clinical sample, with 40% of patients fulfilling the criteria. There was a significant association between OCPD and the degree of burnout symptoms as well as the degree of depression, both at baseline and during the 7‐year follow‐up. No significant association between OCPD and levels of anxiety was observed. Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that there might be an association between OCPD and stress‐related exhaustion, including preservation of symptoms over time. OCPD and its related traits, such as perfectionism, may be important factors to consider when constructing effective treatment and rehabilitation plans for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive‐compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is characterized by pervasive and persistent traits including preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control. Relatively little is known about the potential relationship between OCPD traits and physical health. Methods: We investigated the association between OCPD traits and several self‐reported medical conditions in 249 individuals followed prospectively from 1981 until 2004/2005 as part of the Epidemiological Catchment Area. Results: The OCPD trait score was inversely related to hypertension in males, in models unadjusted (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45–0.90) and adjusted (OR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.47–0.95) for sociodemographic variables. Perfectionism was inversely related to hypertension in the unadjusted models for men (OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12–0.89). Indecisiveness was positively associated with heart conditions in adjusted models for women (OR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.11–10.52). Conclusion: OCPD traits are associated with cardiovascular health in both sexes. Further studies are needed to understand the specificity of these relationships, as well as to determine the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Scrupulosity is a manifestation of obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by religious or moral core fears. Clinicians often struggle to treat scrupulosity, which may be associated with several features known to predict poor treatment outcome. The purpose of this study was to examine these features in participants with scrupulous OCD, contamination OCD, and healthy controls. Method: A total of 68 participants (57.4% women, agemean = 34.01) completed diagnostic interviews, and measures of symptoms and quality‐of‐life. Results: Relative to comparison groups, scrupulous participants had higher rates of obsessive‐compulsive personality disorder, more severe schizotypal symptoms, and more severe symptoms of depression. In addition, OCD severity was strongly associated with poor insight in the scrupulous group. Both OCD groups reported poorer quality of life than did healthy controls. Conclusions: Clinicians working with scrupulous individuals may enhance the efficacy of treatment in this challenging population by assessing carefully for these features, and incorporating treatment elements that address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotherapy for obsessive‐compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), where perfectionism is a defining criterion, is understudied. Despite a high prevalence few evidence‐based treatments are available for the presentation. Here we describe the course of a 6‐month program of metacognitive interpersonal therapy with an OCPD patient with prominent perfectionism and self‐criticism, which were considered primary outcomes of the case study. Therapy aimed initially at increasing awareness of maladaptive interpersonal schemas and promoting a healthy self. First, behavioral experiments were used to try and counteract perfectionism. Second, experiential techniques, such as guided imagery and rescripting, were used to help the client in connect with different, healthier aspects of the self, thus increasing personal and interpersonal wellbeing. Qualitative and quantitative outcomes at the intervention end and at 1‐month follow‐up are summarized. Finally, we reflect on how this case study can inform treatment of perfectionism in OCPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate the Distress Tolerance Scale‐Short Form (DTS‐SF), a modification of the original Distress Tolerance Scale, in a severe/complex sample of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Currently, there are multiple self‐report measurements of distress tolerance (DT), highlighting the need for a more refined measure. Method: Participants included 222 individuals with a primary diagnosis of OCD (57% male, average age = 31) seeking intensive/residential treatment. Participants completed surveys at admission, discharge, and each week. Results: An exploratory factor analysis revealed a one‐factor solution representing overall DT ability. The DTS‐SF was found to be sensitive to treatment effects. Appropriate associations between the DTS‐SF and other measures were also found, with lower DT associated with greater OCD and depression severity and lower reported quality of life. Conclusion: The DTS‐SF was found to be a valid and reliable measure with high clinical utility for quickly and accurately measuring DT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive interpersonal therapy (MIT) for personality disorders is aimed at both improving metacognition—the ability to understand mental states—and modulating problematic interpersonal representations while building new and adaptive ones. Attention to the therapeutic relationship is basic in MIT. Clinicians recognize any dysfunctional relationships with patients and work to achieve attunement to make the latter aware of their problematic interpersonal patterns. The authors illustrate here the case of a man suffering from obsessive–compulsive and avoidant personality disorders with dependent traits. He underwent combined individual and group therapies to (a) modulate his perfectionism, (b) prevent shifts towards avoiding responsibilities to protect himself from feared negative judgments, and (c) help him acknowledge suppressed desires. We show how treatment focused on the various dysfunctional personality aspects. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 64: 1–13, 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]