Personality disorders and normal personality dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background Little is known about personality disorders and normal personality dimensions in relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Aims To determine whether specific personality characteristics are part of a familiar spectrum of OCD. Method Clinicians evaluated personality disorders in 72 OCD case and 72 control probands and 198 case and 297 control first-degree relatives. The self completed Revised NEO Personality Inventory was used for assessment of normal personality dimensions. The prevalence of personality disorders and scores on normal personality dimensions were compared between case and control probands and between case and control relatives. Results Case probands and case relatives had a high prevalence of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and high neuroticism scores. Neuroticism was associated with OCPD in case but not control relatives. Conclusions Neuroticism and OCPD may share a common familiar aetiology with OCD. Declaration of interest Supported by National Institutes of Health grants R0I MH 50214 and NIH/NCRR/OPD-GCRC RR00052.