Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder 681
have an increased likelihood of having a person ality disturbance that meets criteria for ob-
sessive-compulsive personality disorder. Even so , it appears that the majority of individ-
uals with OCD do not have a pattern of behavior that meets criteria for this personality
disorder. Many of the features  of obsessive-compulsive pers onality disorder overlap with
“type A” personality characteristics (e.g., pr eoccupation with work, competitiveness, time
urgency), and these features may be present in  people at risk for myocardial infarction.
There may be an association between obsessiv e-compulsive personality disorder and de-
pressive and bipolar disorders and eating disorders.
Prevalence
Obsessive-compulsive personalit y disorder is one of the mo st prevalent personality dis-
orders in the general population, with estimated prevalence ranging from 2.1% to 7.9%. 
Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues
In assessing an individual for obsessive-com pulsive personality disorder, the clinician
should not include those behaviors that reflect habits, customs, or interpersonal styles that
are culturally sanctioned by the individual’s  reference group. Certain cultures place sub-
stantial emphasis on work and productivity; the resulting behaviors in members of those
societies need not be considered indications of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
In systematic studies, obsessiv e-compulsive personality disord er appears to be diagnosed
about twice as often among males.
Differential Diagnosis
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite the similarity in names, OCD is usually easily
distinguished from obsessive-comp ulsive personality disorder by  the presence of true ob-
sessions and compulsions in OCD. When crit eria for both obsessive-compulsive person-
ality disorder and OCD are met, bo th diagnoses should be recorded.