Compulsive Traits Research Articles

Prevalence and profile of obsessive–compulsive trait in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse

Patients with chronic migraine (CM) and medication overuse headache (MOH) have high frequency of psychiatric comorbidity or psychopathological traits, the presence of which can influence the clinical course. The presence of subclinical obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is underestimated in migraine patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and profile of obsessive-compulsive (OBS) trait in a sample of CM patients with MOH using the OBS questionnaire of Spectrum Collaborative Project. According to the new international classification of headache disorders (ICHD-III beta) criteria, 106 patients (15 M, 91 F, mean age 47.3 years) were selected in a consecutive clinical series. Our results showed that 36 % of patients with CM and MOH were positive at OBS-questionnaire. As far as the profile of OBS trait, we performed an evaluation of prevalence of items separating the first part of the questionnaire (childhood/adolescence and doubts in lifetime) from the other five domains: 21 % of the patients showed prevalence of items in childhood/adolescence domain; 79 % in doubts in lifetime domain; as for other five domains, 10.5 % of patients had prevalence of pathological answers among hypercontrol, 5.2 % in spending time, 23.7 % in perfectionism, 29 % in repetition and automation, and 31.5 % in specific themes (obsessive thoughts). The presence of subclinical OCD in migraine patients, and the link between progression to CM, particularly through MO, and OBS trait is still not well defined. The use of specific tools to assess this possible comorbidity should be encouraged in clinical and research settings.

Individual differences in personality profiles among potential living kidney transplant donors

Although the psychological assessment of potential living kidney donors (PLKD) is part of the recommendations for action for any transplant coordination, there are not many studies that provide data about the importance of selecting donors for improving transplant outcomes. This work aims to raise awareness of potential kidney donors by designing methods for early detection of potential problems after the transplant, as well as by selecting the most suitable donors. This is a study of 25 PLKD drawn from the General University Hospital of Alicante. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) for the study of personality characteristics. Women scored higher than men in the compulsive personality scale, and individuals with a genetic link with the recipient scored higher on depressive and dependent scales than did those with other relationships (emotional or altruistic). Women showed a pattern of significantly more compulsive personality traits (cautious, controlled, perfectionist) within a non-pathological style. Among the PLKD, there were significantly more women, which is contrary to what typically happens with donations from cadavers. Genetically related subjects scored higher on depression than did those that were emotionally related. The personality assessment of candidates for PLKD can help with developing a post-transplant follow-up regimen for an improved quality of life.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and obsessive–compulsive personality traits among pharmacy students

ObjectiveTo survey current pharmacy students to determine the rates of depressive and obsessive–compulsive personality symptoms. MethodsApproximately 320 students currently enrolled at a school of pharmacy were sent an online survey. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Symptoms of Obsessive–Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) were evaluated using questions derived from the diagnostic criteria of OCPD as found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR). ResultsA total of 166 students (51.8%) completed the survey. The prevalence of any type of depressive symptom (≥5 points on the PHQ-9 Scale) was 52.4% (n = 87). The majority of students (80.1%; n = 133) declared they had never been diagnosed with a mental health condition; 13.9% (n = 23) had been diagnosed with depression. Of those sampled, 30% (n = 50) of students indicated the presence of at least four out of eight symptoms of OCPD. ConclusionThe prevalence of depressive symptoms, OCPD symptoms, and other mental health disorders in a school of pharmacy appears to be relatively high. Continued recognition and awareness of these disorders is critical to the overall health and well-being of pharmacy students.

Rasgos patológicos de personalidad y metabolitos cerebrales como predictores de no abstinencia en adictos con trastornos de personalidad

Differences in pathological personality traits and disturbances in brain metabolites between non consumers, abstinent and non abstinent consumers were assessed. Participants (n=113) aged between 18-45 years with personality disorder (PD) were diagnosed with clinical interview and scales for depression, anxiety, impulsivity and dimensions of personality pathology. Brain metabolites were analyzed with magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and multiple comparisons. Abstinent and non-abstinent differentiated from non-consumers in emotional deregulation, inhibition, and restricted expression; abstinent and non-abstinent differentiated from each other in self-aggression, dissocial behaviour, conduct disorder, stimulus seeking and intimacy problems. N-Acetyl Aspartate and creatine values were lower between non-abstinent in prefrontal, anterior cingulate cortex, cerebellar vermis and superior corona radiata. For abstinent, choline levels were greater in cerebellar vermis and n-acetyl aspartate were lower in dorso-lateral prefrontal and anterior cingulated cortex and insula. Regarding personality traits, insecure attachment, narcissism, lability, self-aggression and anxiety characterize consumers and abstinent, while suspiciousness, rejection and character hardness are found in consumers (non-abstinent and abstinent). Compulsive traits, unplanned body impulsiveness and lack of control in emotional regulation predominated in non-abstinent and participants with co-morbidities. Detachment and inhibition predominate in alcohol abuse disorder and narcissistic traits in substance abuse.

P 247. Incompleteness and harm avoidance in obsessive compulsive disorder: Different response to transcranial magnetic stimulation

Introduction Incompleteness (INC) and Harm Avoidance (HA) are core dimensions of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Conventional treatments are tailored to OCD as an anxiety disorder with a strong HA component. Therefore, reports of poorer outcomes for OCD patients with predominant INC are not surprising (Ecker and Gonner, 2008). Objectives Here we present data on the effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on INC and HA symptom dimensions in a sample of treatment-resistant OCD subjects. Materials and methods In 18 OCD subjects randomized to 4weeks of low-frequency TMS or sham to the pre-Supplementary Motor Area (pre-SMA), we assessed INC and HA using the Obsessive Compulsive Trait Core Dimensions Questionnaire (OC-TCDQ) and the Not Just Right Experiences-Severity Score (NJRE-SS) at baseline and tested their relationship with changes in the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Pearson's correlations were conducted with two-sided significance levels (alpha=0.05). Results Treatment with TMS was successful in 6/9 patients with an average improvement in responders of 35% on the Y-BOCS. 2/9 patients responded to sham (Mantovani et al., 2010). In the active group INC correlated positively with Y-BOCS improvements ( r =0.7, p =0.035), while HA showed a negative correlation with changes in Y-BOCS ( r =−0.8, p =0.009). The severity of NJREs showed no significant correlation with clinical improvement. In the sham group correlations of INC and HA components with Y-BOCS were not significant. Conclusion According to our preliminary results, low-frequency TMS to the pre-SMA might be more effective on INC. Considering the assumption that INC experiences primarily impair patients' ability to stop ritualizing, an inhibitory form of TMS directed to the pre-SMA, which has been found to be hyperactive in OCD (Yucel et al., 2007), may normalize a deficient response inhibition characteristic of OCD (de Wit et al., 2012).

Can protective factors moderate the detrimental effects of child maltreatment on personality functioning?

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine whether, and if so, to what extent, education and coping strategies may reduce the detrimental effects of childhood maltreatment on personality functioning. MethodsWe assessed dimensional trait-scores of all 10 DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs), childhood maltreatment, education and three coping styles in 511 subjects of the general population of Zurich, Switzerland, using data from the ZInEP Epidemiology Survey. ResultsChildhood maltreatment was associated with all 10 PDs. Low education was related to antisocial, borderline and histrionic PD. Low emotion-focused coping was associated with paranoid, schizoid, borderline, avoidant, and obsessive–compulsive PD. Low problem-focused coping was related to schizoid PD and high problem-focused coping to histrionic PD. High dysfunctional coping was significantly related to all 10 PD dimensions. Obsessive–compulsive trait scores were significantly lower in maltreated subjects with high emotion-focused coping. Antisocial, borderline and narcissistic trait scores were significantly higher in maltreated subjects with high dysfunctional coping. ConclusionEducation and adaptive coping may have a protective effect on PD symptomatology. Promotion of adaptive coping and suppression of dysfunctional coping may additionally reduce PD symptoms specifically in maltreated subjects. Those findings have important clinical implications. Longitudinal research is needed to address questions of causality and to evaluate potential effects of treatment and intervention.

Incompleteness as a Link between Obsessive–Compulsive Personality Traits and Specific Symptom Dimensions of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

This paper examines the contribution of incompleteness/'not just right experiences' (NJREs) to an understanding of the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive personality traits (OCPTs). It investigates the association of specific OCD symptom dimensions with OCPTs, conceptualized as continuous phenomena that are also observable below the diagnostic threshold. As empirical findings and clinical observation suggest that incompleteness feelings/NJREs may play a significant affective and motivational role for certain OCD subtypes, but also for patients with accentuated OCPTs, we hypothesized that OCPTs are selectively linked with incompleteness-associated OCD symptom dimensions (ordering, checking, hoarding and counting). Moreover, we assumed that this selective relationship cannot be demonstrated any more after statistical control of incompleteness, whereas it is preserved after statistical control of anxiety, depression, pathological worry and harm avoidance. Results from a study with a large clinical sample (n = 185) partially support these hypotheses and suggest that NJREs may be an important connecting link between specific OCD symptom dimensions, in particular ordering and checking, and accentuated OCPTs. Obsessive-compulsive personality traits (OCPTs) are positively related to obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom dimensions (ordering, checking, hoarding and counting) hypothesized or found to be associated with incompleteness/'not just right experiences' (NJREs), but not to washing and obsessions. This positive relationship, which is strongest for ordering and checking, is eliminated when NJREs are statistically controlled. Ordering, checking and accentuated OCPTs may share NJREs as a common affective-motivational underpinning.Dysfunctional behaviour patterns of people with accentuated OCPTs or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) may be viewed as efforts to avoid or reduce subjectively intolerable NJREs. On the basis of such a conceptualization of OCPD as an emotional disorder, a novel treatment approach for OCPD focusing on habituation to NJREs could be developed.

The cognitive-interpersonal maintenance model of anorexia nervosa revisited: a summary of the evidence for cognitive, socio-emotional and interpersonal predisposing and perpetuating factors.

AimTo describe the evidence base relating to the Cognitive-Interpersonal Maintenance Model for anorexia nervosa (AN).BackgroundA Cognitive-Interpersonal Maintenance Model maintenance model for anorexia nervosa was described in 2006. This model proposed that cognitive, socio-emotional and interpersonal elements acted together to both cause and maintain eating disorders.MethodA review of the empirical literature relating to the key constructs of the model (cognitive, socio-emotional, interpersonal) risk and maintaining factors for anorexia nervosa was conducted.ResultsSet shifting and weak central coherence (associated with obsessive compulsive traits) have been widely studied. There is some evidence to suggest that a strong eye for detail and weak set shifting are inherited vulnerabilities to AN. Set shifting and global integration are impaired in the ill state and contribute to weak central coherence. In addition, there are wide-ranging impairments in socio-emotional processing including: an automatic bias in attention towards critical and domineering faces and away from compassionate faces; impaired signalling of, interpretation and regulation of emotions. Difficulties in social cognition may in part be a consequence of starvation but inherited vulnerabilities may also contribute to these traits. The shared familial traits may accentuate family members’ tendency to react to the frustrating and frightening symptoms of AN with high expressed emotion (criticism, hostility, overprotection), and inadvertently perpetuate the problem.ConclusionThe cognitive interpersonal model is supported by accumulating evidence. The model is complex in that cognitive and socio-emotional factors both predispose to the illness and are exaggerated in the ill state. Furthermore, some of the traits are inherited vulnerabilities and are present in family members. The clinical formulations from the model are described as are new possibilities for targeted treatment.

1756 – Child sexual abuse andnarcissism: a case report

Child Sexual Abuse has a wide range of connotations. Psychiatric implications often include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and also self-harming behavior. Moreover it often determines personality correlates (in particular Borderline Personality Disorder). In this contribution we report an explicative case of the consequences linked to child sexual abuse. Patient : Male, 40 ys, divorced, one son (11 ys). He reports child sexual abuse by both parents (7 to 12 ys). Abuses ended when he fight with his father using a knife. He worked for an airline company, but was fired for an excess of work absence due to pathology. Since adolescence he presented obsessive-compulsive behavior, anxiety, mood instability, impulsiveness, flash backs, nightmares, attention difficulties and sleep disorder (linked to the idea of his own death during sleeping). Clinical diagnoses : Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Axis I), and Personality Disorder NAS with obsessive compulsive and narcissistic traits (Axis II). He complains about side effects due to many drugs (different antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers), but shows small responsiveness. Test: WAIS-R : I.Q.=105 RORCHACH : a personality organized with narcissistic defenses due to relational defects linked to self and identity definition. SCID-II : Personality Disorder NAS with obsessive compulsive and narcissistic traits.

Reducing parental anxiety using a family based intervention for youth mental health: A randomized controlled trial

This paper presents findings on parent anxiety and attachment relationship style from the Deakin Family Options (DFO) pilot study, a randomized controlled pilot study comparing a family-based treatment (BEST Plus), versus a youth only treatment (CBT) versus a group who received both of these treatments (COMBINED). Eligible participants were families with a young person (aged 12 - 25 years) with a high prevalence mental health problem. Youth from participating families scored in the clinical or subclinical range for depression, anxiety and/or substance misuse symptoms on standardized measures during the initial assessment. The collected sample was drawn from regional and urban centers in Victoria, Australia and allocated to treatment condition using a simple randomization procedure (parallel design). It was hypothesized that families receiving the BEST Plus would experience greater reductions in youth and parent mental health symptoms, and improved parent-child relationships, compared with those in the CBT condition. This paper describes and discusses changes in parent anxiety and parent attachment, according to whether the parent participated in a treatment (BEST Plus) or did not (NONBEST Plus). Participants were blind to the study hypotheses. In total 71 parent participants returned pre data and were allocated to a treatment group. In this paper, data from parent participants who completed pre and post measures (n = 48) and pre, post, and 6-month follow-up measures (n = 28) on anxiety and attachment were analyzed by group (BEST Plus versus NONBEST Plus). The results of this study suggest that parent anxiety decreased significantly more following parent involvement in a group treatment, than for parents that did not receive treatment. Unexpectedly, avoidant attachment increased in the no treatment group, but remained relatively stable following the BEST Plus group. There were no significant findings in relation to compulsive traits and anxious attachment. These findings are discussed in light of the study limitations.

Distinctive Personality Traits and Neural Correlates Associated with Stimulant Drug Use Versus Familial Risk of Stimulant Dependence

BackgroundStimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine have a high abuse liability, but not everyone who uses them develops dependence. However, the risk for dependence is increased for individuals with a family history of addiction. We hypothesized that individuals without a family history of dependence who have been using cocaine recreationally for several years but have not made the transition to dependence will differ in terms of personality traits and brain structure from individuals who are either dependent on stimulants or at risk for dependence.MethodsWe compared 27 individuals without a familial risk of dependence who had been using cocaine recreationally with 50 adults with stimulant dependence, their nondependent siblings (n = 50), and unrelated healthy volunteers (n = 52) who had neither a personal nor a family history of dependence. All participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan and completed a selection of personality measures that have been associated with substance abuse.ResultsIncreased sensation-seeking traits and abnormal orbitofrontal and parahippocampal volume were shared by individuals who were dependent on stimulant drugs or used cocaine recreationally. By contrast, increased levels of impulsive and compulsive personality traits and limbic-striatal enlargement were shared by stimulant-dependent individuals and their unaffected siblings.ConclusionsWe provide evidence for distinct neurobiological phenotypes that are either associated with familial vulnerability for dependence or with regular stimulant drug use. Our findings further suggest that some individuals with high sensation-seeking traits but no familial vulnerability for dependence are likely to use cocaine but may have relatively low risk for developing dependence.

Neurobiological Correlates of the Familial Risk for Stimulant Drug Dependence

Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines are popular recreational drugs, which are thought to be used by up to 52 million individuals world-wide (UNODC, 2010). However, despite their high addictive liability, not everyone who uses these drugs develops dependence, though the risk for dependence is significantly increased for people with a family history of addiction. This familial aggregation of drug and alcohol dependence suggests that either genetic factors, a shared family environment, or an interaction of genes and environment underlie the increased risk for addiction in some people. The concept of endophentoypes may offer a useful tool to better understand how a pre-existing vulnerability to addiction might be inherited. Endophenotypes have been described as neurobiological correlates of a disorder, which are thought to be genetically determined and stable over time (Gottesman and Gould, 2003). In other words, abnormalities in brain systems underlying the clinical symptoms of stimulant dependence may not only be observed in individuals who are dependent on stimulant drugs, but also in their non-dependent first-degree relatives. Key symptoms of stimulant dependence, such as the inability to stop using the drug and the loss of control over drug intake, may be underpinned by a general lack of self-control, which may have predated drug-taking. We assessed a wide range of cognitive and emotional functions as well as personality traits that have previously been associated with drug dependence in three groups of volunteers: 50 adults with stimulant dependence, their non-dependent biological siblings and 50 unrelated healthy volunteers who had neither a personal nor a family history of dependence (Ersche et al, 2012a, 2012b). We identified significant impairments in inhibitory control abilities and abnormally high levels of impulsive and compulsive personality traits in the sibling pairs compared with the unrelated healthy volunteers. The sibling pairs also shared abnormalities in brain regions that have previously been associated with stimulant dependence, such as the inferior frontal gyrus, the amygdale, and the putamen (Chang et al, 2005; Lim et al, 2002). Moreover, their poor performance of behavioral control on the stop-signal task was directly associated with reduced fractional anisotropy in frontal white matter brain fibers, shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 Deficits of motor inhibitory control and white matter organization in stimulant-dependent individuals and their non-dependent siblings. (a) Stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) differed significantly between the three groups (F2,141 = 9.9, P<0.001). ... These findings shed new light on addiction vulnerability and may explain why the risk of becoming addicted to drugs is increased in people with a family history. The observation that abnormalities in brain and behavior may render individuals vulnerable to developing dependence (if resilience factors are absent), opens up new avenues for preventative and therapeutic strategies. For example, preventative approaches may consider strengthening self-control abilities in individuals at risk, while therapeutic interventions could be guided by the successful compensatory strategies used by unaffected siblings to overcome their brain abnormalities in every-day life. The identification of addiction endophenotypes in brain and behavior provide further compelling evidence that drug dependence is a disorder of the brain, with underlying abnormalities that can increase a person’s risk for addiction.

Measures to Assess Maladaptive Variants of the Five-Factor Model

The five-factor model (FFM) is the predominant dimensional model of general personality structure. A considerable body of research supports the hypothesis that personality disorders can be conceptualized as extreme or maladaptive variants of the domains and facets of the FFM. However, existing measures of the FFM are confined largely to the normal variants. The purpose of this special section of the Journal of Personality Assessment is to provide the development and initial validation of self-report inventory scales to assess obsessive–compulsive, borderline, narcissistic, avoidant, and dependent personality traits from the perspective of the FFM, which complement the similarly constructed existing measures for psychopathic, histrionic, and schizotypal personality traits.

A Five-Factor Measure of Obsessive–Compulsive Personality Traits

This study provides convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity data for the Five-Factor Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (FFOCI), a newly developed measure of traits relevant to obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) from the perspective of the Five-factor model (FFM). Twelve scales were constructed as maladaptive variants of specific FFM facets (e.g., Perfectionism as a maladaptive variant of FFM competence). On the basis of data from 407 undergraduates (oversampled for OCPD symptoms) these 12 scales demonstrated convergent correlations with established measures of OCPD and the FFM. Further, they obtained strong discriminant validity with respect to facets from other FFM domains. Most important, the individual scales and total score of the FFOCI obtained incremental validity beyond existing measures of the FFM and OCPD for predicting a composite measure of obsessive–compulsive symptomatology. The findings support the validity of the FFOCI as a measure of obsessive–compulsive personality traits, as well as of maladaptive variants of the FFM.

Evidence for a genetic overlap between body dysmorphic concerns and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in an adult female community twin sample

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is thought to be etiologically related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but the available evidence is incomplete. The current study examined the genetic and environmental sources of covariance between body dysmorphic and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a community sample of adult twins. A total of 2,148 female twins (1,074 pairs) completed valid and reliable measures of body dysmorphic concerns and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The data were analyzed using bivariate twin modeling methods and the statistical programme Mx. In the best-fitting model, the covariation between body dysmorphic and obsessive-compulsive traits was largely accounted for by genetic influences common to both phenotypes (64%; 95% CI: 0.50-0.80). This genetic overlap was even higher when specific obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions were considered, with up to 82% of the phenotypic correlation between the obsessing and symmetry/ordering symptom dimensions and dysmorphic concerns being attributable to common genetic factors. Unique environmental factors, although influencing these traits individually, did not substantially contribute to their covariation. The results remained unchanged when excluding individuals reporting an objective medical condition/injury accounting for their concern in physical appearance. The association between body dysmorphic concerns and obsessive-compulsive symptoms is largely explained by shared genetic factors. Environmental risk factors were largely unique to each phenotype. These results support current recommendations to group BDD together with OCD in the same DSM-5 chapter, although comparison with other phenotypes such as somatoform disorders and social phobia is needed.

Workaholism: A Review

In this review, I examine the definition, etiology, measurement, prevention and treatment of workaholism, based on a systematic search of the literature. While there is some debate regarding the parameters of the concept, viewed as a negative consequential addiction, workaholism involves excessive time spent working, preoccupation with work to the exclusion of other life domains, loss of control over the parameters of one's work and disenchantment with work, and negative social, emotional, and health consequences. The etiology of workaholism is not clear but may pertain to persons with compulsive personality traits, who are driven to work harder than that demanded from work contexts, and who have learned to place work as a main means of gratification compared to other lifestyle alternatives. Most measurement approaches rely on self-report questionnaires, tested primarily with convenience samples. Refinement of current assessments is ongoing. Prevention and treatment implications are discussed, which include intra- and extra-personal level approaches. Finally, limitations of the work completed in this arena are mentioned and needed future research directions are suggested.

The prevalence of impulsive, compulsive and innovative shopping behaviour in the economic retail hub of South Africa: A marketing segmentation approach

To date, research on impulsive, compulsive and innovative retail shopping behaviour motivated by the desire to obtain emotional, social and identity-related benefits, has largely been limited to Europe (Germany), Canada and western developed economies (the UK and USA). This article provides an initial analysis of the prevalence of impulsive, compulsive and innovative shopping traits of consumers in the economic retail hub of South Africa. More precisely, the article explores the demographic diversity in the purchase and innovative traits of Gauteng consumers. Overall, the article reveals clear disparity in impulsive, compulsive and innovative shopping behaviour across selected demographic and socioeconomic consumer segments. From a practical perspective, the marketing segmentation approach applied in this study is ideally suited for retail segmentation and marketing strategy development and serves to identify key marketplace buying behaviours. For retail, insight into buying and innovative shopping behaviour is essential for building long-term relationships with consumers and to serve their specific needs within an extremely complex and competitive retail landscape. Key words: Impulsive shopping, compulsive shopping, Mavenism, Oniomania,shopping addiction, retail therapy, recreational shopping, innovative shopping, behaviour.

Etiology of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and obsessive-compulsive personality traits: common genes, mostly different environments

Little is known about the etiologic relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and traits of OC personality disorder. The traits include perfectionism and rigidity. Some theorists have proposed that OC personality disorder is one of several disorders falling within an OC spectrum. This implies that OC personality traits and symptoms should have etiologic factors in common, and this should not be simply because symptoms and traits are both shaped by nonspecific etiological influences, such as those shaping negative emotionality (neuroticism). To investigate these issues, a community sample of 307 pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic adult twins provided scores on six types of OC-related symptoms, two markers of negative emotionality, and a measure of OC personality traits. Analyses indicated that symptoms and traits arose from a combination of genetic and nonshared environmental factors. A matrix of genetic correlations was computed among the variables, which represented the correlations between the genetic components of pairs of variables. A matrix of environmental correlations was similarly computed. Each matrix was factor analyzed. One genetic factor was obtained, indicating that all variables were influenced by a common genetic factor. Three environmental factors were obtained, with salient loadings on either (a) all six OC symptoms, (b) negative emotionality and obsessing, or (c) OC personality traits and ordering. OC symptoms and traits were etiologically related primarily because they are shaped by the same nonspecific genetic factor that influenced negative emotionality. Implications for the concept of the OC spectrum are discussed.

Obsessive–compulsive personality traits: How are they related to OCD severity?

Previous research has demonstrated that comorbid obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with greater overall OCD severity, functional impairment, and poorer treatment outcomes (Coles et al., 2008; Lochner et al., 2010; Pinto, 2009). However, research has only examined the effects of OCPD categorically and has yet to thoroughly examine the impact of individual OCPD characteristics dimensionally. Thus, the present study sought to investigate the relationships between various OCPD-related dimensions (e.g., perfectionism, rigidity) and OCD symptomology and severity. The study recruited a sample of OCD patients (n=51) in the OCD units of two residential treatment facilities. Findings yielded significant relationships between OCD severity and the following OCPD dimensions: flexibility, doubts about actions (a dimension of perfectionism), and hoarding. Interpretations of these results and the implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcome are discussed. Furthermore, the current study provides insight into a unique perspective which leaves room for more symptom overlap and variability between OCD and OCPD.

Personalidad y síndromes clínicos : un estudio con el MCMI-III basado en una muestra española = Personality and clinical síndromes : a study with the MCMI-III in a Spanish sample

This work presents a research carried out in Spain with 7011 patients who completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III). Prevalence and percentages of clinical personality traits and clinical syndromes were studied, fi nding a higher prevalence of compulsive, narcissistic, and histrionic personality traits, and of the clinical anxiety syndrome. Also, we found (a) higher ratings in men than in women for traits/syndromes narcissistic, paranoid, antisocial, schizoid, thought disorder, substance abuse and alcohol abuse scales; and (b) higher ratings in women than in men for traits/syndromes depressive, dependent, avoidant, borderline, negativistic, aggressivesadistic, dysthymic, somatoform, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Correlations between the personality scales and the clinical syndromes (i.e., Axis II and Axis I variables), controlling for the effect of sex, were statistically signifi cant (the compulsive, narcissistic, and histrionic scales correlated negatively).