Which of the following personality disorders is characterized by a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control, often at the expense of flexibility and efficiency?

Explanation

## Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) **Key Point:** OCPD is a Cluster C personality disorder defined by excessive devotion to productivity, perfectionism, and control. This differs fundamentally from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is an anxiety disorder with ego-dystonic obsessions and compulsions. ### Core Features of OCPD - Preoccupation with orderliness, lists, schedules, and rules - Perfectionism that interferes with task completion - Excessive devotion to work and productivity - Reluctance to delegate tasks - Restricted emotional expression - Ego-syntonic (person sees traits as reasonable and desirable) ### Cluster C Personality Disorders | Disorder | Key Feature | Emotional Tone | |----------|------------|----------------| | OCPD | Perfectionism, control, orderliness | Anxious, rigid | | Avoidant PD | Fear of rejection, social inhibition | Anxious, withdrawn | | Dependent PD | Need for care, submissiveness | Anxious, clinging | **High-Yield:** OCPD patients often present as "workaholics" who struggle with delegation and are distressed by inefficiency—but they do NOT experience the distress that OCD patients do. Their symptoms are ego-syntonic. **Clinical Pearl:** OCPD is common in high-achieving professionals and is often undiagnosed because the traits are socially rewarded in many occupations.