OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered a biological condition. The person experiences “ego dystonic” intrusive thoughts that seem foreign, strange, or non-sensical to the rest of their mind. These are often paired with compulsive and rigid ritualistic behaviors that are excessive or non-purposeful. The person recognizes the intrusive and interruptive quality of these thoughts and behaviors but finds them difficult to resist.

OCD is different from obsessive compulsive personality traits in which the person has strong “ego syntonic” preferences for orderliness, perfectionism, or organizational patterns that come with a cost / toll.

OCD is best treated via a combination of medication management, behavioral strategies, and specific orientations of talk therapy. OCPD (personality traits) is best examined via a psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral approach to better understand the adaptation, develop insight, and change the underlying drives fueling the behavior.