Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2006, at 10:17:28
In reply to Re: OCD and schizotypal, posted by B2chica on June 28, 2006, at 9:45:48
OCD is more intrusive thoughts and impulses to do rituals to ward off feared consequences, and is classified as an anxiety disorder.
OCPD is usually described in terms of perfectionism and a lack of flexibility. It's considered a personality or characterological disorder. I think that's an overly negative view, personally. I think it would be more compassionate to view OCPD as a way to control anxiety. A person might feel if they could just control everything around them and make sure it's done "right" then nothing bad will happen. But of course they can't control everything, and the resulting anxiety sometimes comes out as anger. I have a fair amount of sympathy for it, myself.
I've been diagnosed, incorrectly I think, with schizotypal personality disorder. My second psychiatrist agreed with me that I don't have it. I might have schizotypal traits but traits do not a disorder make. I think the diagnosis was prematurely given to me based on my family history of delusions, although I'm not really clear whether it was schizophrenia or manic depression.
A lot of people think it should be moved to Axis I as on the milder end of the schizophrenic spectrum.
Since I think most "personality disorders" should be broken into the underlying biological disorders and Axis II reserved for the characteristic coping skills people use, I have no problem with that. Doesn't a cluster of coping mechanisms sound much less judgemental than a "personality disorder"?
My therapist thinks I have borderline personality disorder. I think I have the biological and emotional underpinnings of it, but for the most part my life history wouldn't support the diagnosis. Except for my interactions with my therapist. Then they fit perfectly. :)
poster:Dinah
thread:662028
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060623/msgs/662192.html