DSM-III Personality Disorder in Obsessive-Compulsive Study Volunteers: A Controlled Study

Twenty-one patients (6 men, 15 women) with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were each compared with two age-and sex-matched community controls for DSM-III personality measures using the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ), a self-report instrument. Seven (33.3%) obsessive–compulsive patients and five (11.9%) control subjects met criteria for at least one personality disorder. Obsessive–compulsive patients were significantly more likely than controls to manifest dramatic cluster–histrionic, borderline, narcissistic, and antisocial–personality disorders or traits (odds ratio = 10, p >.05), particularly borderline personality. Mean PDQ scores for dramatic cluster and anxious cluster personality traits were significantly higher for patients than for community controls. This study demonstrates a higher prevalence of dramatic cluster personality disorders in obsessive–compulsive patients than age- and sex-matched community controls, but no increase in DSM-III compulsive personality.