What Is the Difference Between OCPD and OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) are two separate mental health conditions that often get confused with each other. While they cause similar behaviors, their motivations and beliefs differ.

OCD is a condition that causes intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and obsessions. A person with OCD often engages in repetitive behaviors or rituals as a way to control the anxiety they feel. OCPD is a personality disorder that causes excessive attention to detail and perfectionist behaviors.

Symptoms of OCD vs. OCPD

People with OCD experience distressing, intrusive thoughts. As a way to cope with these thoughts, they develop compulsions and need to perform certain actions or rituals to relieve the anxiety. On the other hand, people with OCPD experience an obsession with perfection and tend to seem controlling and strict. Here’s a breakdown of their symptoms:

Differences

OCD and OCPD are different conditions that cause very different experiences. While a person with OCD may appear to take similar actions to a person with OCPD, their inner thoughts and motivations vary greatly. 

OCD Causes True Obsessions and Compulsions 

While people with OCPD experience a strong desire for control and perfectionism, they do not have obsessions or compulsions. People with OCD experience true obsessions and compulsions that greatly interfere with their lives.

Obsessions are irrational thoughts or ideas that a person has repeatedly. Compulsions are irrational behaviors performed repeatedly. For example, this can look like excessively washing hands or repeatedly checking if the door is locked.

The experiences are different

People with OCD tend to find their obsessions and compulsions distressing. They know that their behaviors are not normal or helpful but find themselves unable to stop. People with OCPD, however, tend to believe that their behaviors are necessary and helpful. They do not feel distressed by their actions and think their behaviors make sense.

Someone living with OCD usually experiences more intense obsessions and compulsions during times of stress and anxiety. Their symptoms fluctuate based on their mood and stressors. On the other hand, people living with OCPD have persistent symptoms that do not come and go.

Each condition is diagnosed differently

OCD and OCPD are classified as different conditions, so the diagnosis process differs. OCD is an anxiety disorder, while OCPD is a personality disorder. To diagnose OCD or OCPD, a mental health provider will ask several questions about your thoughts, behaviors, and experiences to learn how they’re affecting your daily life and overall well-being.

To receive a diagnosis for OCD, your mental health provider will look for the following symptoms:

• Intrusive thoughts and behaviors take an hour or more each day
• Difficulty controlling thoughts or behaviors
• Behaviors provide some relief from anxiety but are not enjoyable 
• Symptoms interfere with your relationships, work, and life
• Obsessions and compulsions are not due to a substance use disorder

To be diagnosed with OCPD, the following symptoms must be present:

• Intense desire for control and perfection 
• Extreme devotion to work
• Inability to empathize with others 
• Preoccupation with rules, lists, and order
• Rigid or inflexible with regulations, values, and ethics 
• Difficulty maintaining personal relationships 

Similarities

While these conditions are classified under different disorders, both OCD and OCPD can greatly affect your daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.

They often occur at the same age

Both OCD and OCPD tend to affect people of similar ages. These two disorders are most likely to start causing symptoms in late adolescence or early adulthood. People in their late teens or early twenties are at the highest risk of being diagnosed with OCD or OCPD.

Both conditions affect relationships

OCD and OCPD cause symptoms that significantly affect your daily life and relationships. Someone with OCD often feels controlled by their obsessions and compulsions. This can make it difficult to maintain close relationships. Because people with OCPD have a strong need to control the people around them, they may have a challenging time staying in relationships with friends and family.

Treatment looks similar

The recommended treatment for OCD and OCPD is psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that focuses on how to address unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is the most commonly recommended for both OCD and OCPD treatment.

People with OCPD may also benefit from psychodynamic therapy, a type of therapy that helps you make connections between your past experiences and current behaviors.

People with OCD may also benefit from exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), a type of therapy that slowly and gradually exposes a person to their obsessions. An example may include touching a dirty surface or leaving a framed picture crooked on the wall.

Can you have both OCPD and OCD?

Many mental health conditions can often occur at the same time. It is possible to experience both OCD and OCPD at the same time. In fact, up to 20-30% of people with OCPD may also have OCD.

When to seek care and who to contact

Both conditions tend to develop when a person is in their late teens or early twenties. If you notice changes to your mental health or behaviors, seeing a primary care provider or mental health professional can help you understand what you’re experiencing and start treatment if necessary.

If your primary care provider suspects you may have an underlying mental health condition, they’ll likely refer you to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. However, other mental health providers, such as social workers and therapists, can also help you manage your condition well.