What is the difference between OCD and Ocpd (excessive perfectionist) disorders?

You may have heard the term obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) which refers to a form of mental disorder. Well, what about personality disorders obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)? Although the names OCD and OCPD are very similar, the two conditions are fundamentally different. The differences are quite subtle and are not related to one another. Find out the difference between the two below, let's.

What is OCD?

Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD can be interpreted as a mental disorder characterized by constant disturbing thoughts. The emergence of this thought is a form of obsession with something that is not or less realistic.

These obsessions often create anxiety and trigger repetitive behaviors as a way of dealing with the anxiety caused by the obsession. As a result, this repetitive behavior actually hinders productivity and daily activities.

What is OCPD?

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a personality disorder that causes a person to have a mindset of excessive perfectionism and a desire to control all aspects of his life. People with OCPD are so focused on specific details, order, uniformity, or lists that they sometimes forget the main purpose of doing things.

Although the perfectionism trait of regularity seems good, the side effect of this behavior can actually hinder productivity. Because of his attention, when a person with OCPD misses certain details, he will end up completely stopping his activities because he feels like a failure. It is also possible for a person with OCPD to choose to start over again when something went wrong or was missed. Of course this will take a lot of time.

What are the causes of OCD and OCPD?

Genetic factors are thought to play a role in the occurrence of OCD and OCPD. OCD is more closely related to impaired brain function that causes repetitive behavior. Meanwhile, in the case of OCPD, environmental factors such as overprotective parenting or demanding a lot of children can be the trigger.

Both the obsession and perfectionism caused by these two disorders will give rise to anxiety disorders that have an impact on how they perform activities. Both can appear simultaneously in a person so that identification and treatment is needed to cure people with both disorders.

What is the difference between OCD and OCPD?

In simple terms, people with OCD act compulsively (repeatedly out of control) because of the urge from the brain. This is different from OCPD where you may not be doing the same things over and over again, for example clearing your desk.

It's enough to clear your desk once in the morning, but you really make sure it's clean and tidy. This may take some time. However, when you are neat you will stop cleaning the table and get to work. You will only clean up the table again when it is messy and full of stuff.

Whereas a person with OCD may set their table multiple times an hour or a day. This is not because he wants his desk to be clean and tidy like someone with OCPD. It's because his brain can't control his urge to organize paper and ballpoint pens (which are actually neatly arranged). If he doesn't do this, he will feel very anxious and restless.

Apart from differences in symptoms, there are other criteria that differentiate OCD and OCPD. Check out the explanation below.

1. Awareness

People with OCD often become aware of obsessions or repetitive actions because they interfere with their daily activities. Unfortunately, people with OCD tend to be embarrassed to admit it, let alone seek treatment.

Whereas people with OCPD believe in perfectionism and according to him, too high standards are normal. As a result, they do not even realize that what they are doing is excessive or unnatural.

2. The purpose of doing something

People with OCD do things over and over again to relieve ongoing anxiety and obsessions. Unlike people who have OCPD, they do things in a focused and detailed way as a way to increase efficiency.

3. Impact on productivity

OCD disorder causes more serious negative effects because the obsession will hinder their daily activities. Meanwhile, in most cases, people with OCPD may remain productive at work.

4. Emotional stress

You can feel an obsession with OCD as unpleasant and make you feel helpless or anxious. On the other hand, the OCPD enjoys a time when they have to organize, do, and perfect things.

5. The timing of symptoms

OCD symptoms appear when there is a certain trigger so that repeated behavior occurs to relieve it. Suppose you have an obsession with washing your hands, even though you are not really a person who has a phobia of germs or is very hygienic.

Meanwhile, the occurrence of OCPD tends to be integrated with a person's personality and is not tied to certain types of behavior. So that the appearance of OCPD symptoms can occur at any time and does not have a specific trigger.

However, in the end what can help you diagnose OCD and OCPD are doctors and experts such as psychologists. If the symptoms you feel are annoying, see a mental health specialist or psychologist immediately.