Causes, incidence and risk factors

This disorder tends to occur in families. Biological and developmental may play a casual role. A person with this disorder shows perfectionism and inflexibility beginning in early adulthood. Perfectionism may interfere with the ability to complete a given task because rigid standards cannot be met. People with this disorder may emotionally withdraw when ill, or when not in control. Individuals who are high achievers, competitive, sense urgency in everything, or are often hostile or aggressive are at a high risk for this disorder.

Symptoms

• inflexibility
• preoccupation with details, rules, lists
• reluctance to allow others to do things
• excessive devotion to work
• restricted expression of affection
• lack of generosity
• inability to throw things away, even if there is no value in the object
• Perfectionism