Relation of factor-analyzed symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder to personality disorders

Objective: To assess the relation between symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and comorbid personality disorders (PDs). Method: The scores of 75 OCD outpatients on five previously identified symptom dimensions were entered into multiple regression models as predictors of: 1) the presence of any type of PD; 2) the number of PDs; 3) the presence of any cluster A, B or C PD; and 4) the presence of each individual PD. Results: Twenty-eight patients (37.3%) met criteria for one or more PDs. High scores on the 'Hoarding' dimension were strongly related to the presence of any Axis II diagnosis, and to the number of PDs. Cluster C PDs (especially obsessive-compulsive and avoidant) had the highest partial correlations with 'Hoarding'. These results were independent of OCD symptom severity. Conclusion: Previous conflicting findings about the prevalence of certain PDs in OCD might be due in part to differences in the constitution of the particular patient groups studied.