How sensitive is your OCD radar?
It will probably not come as a surprise to some people that I scored 100% on the Playbuzz test (linked at the bottom of the page).
However, you could argue as to whether the short quiz demeans people genuinely suffering from crippling OCD, as opposed to simply being a bit of fun that tests your powers of observation and fast thinking, whilst happily supporting the idea you are “a bit OCD”.
Actually, I am “a bit OCD”, but also not because:
Obsessive behaviour falls into several clinical categories, each with its own spectrum and checklist. So, for me, from an online OCPD self-diagnostic, I scored 74, which is considered (by the scale author) to be extremely high for an Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (i.e. NOT OCD).
However, online quizzes and such do NOT equal a qualified medical evaluation! That said it may be a useful guide. For instance, my actual diagnosis – from a highly qualified neuro-psychologist – is that I “scored very highly” for OCPD, specifically Anankastic Personality Disorder, a specific neurosis, that can be life-interfering, as opposed to simply being just prone to obsessiveness.
Even so, this is still vastly different from the crippling anxiety associated with specific OCD. Rather different from a “spot the odd one out” type of quiz. eh.
Here’s what the NHS has to say about OCPD
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
A person with obsessive compulsive personality disorder is anxious about issues that seem out of control or “messy”.
They are preoccupied with orderliness and ways to control their environment, and may come across to others as a “control freak”.
Other features include:
having an excessive interest in lists, timetables and rules
being so concerned with completing a task perfectly that they have problems completing it (perfectionism)
being a workaholic
having very rigid views about issues such as morality, ethics and how a person should behave in daily life
hoarding items that seem to have no monetary or sentimental value
being unable to delegate tasks to other people
disliking spending money, as they think it is always better to save for a “rainy day”
In contrast, here’s what the same NHS page has to say about OCD:
This (above) personality disorder differs from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a related mental health condition, in several important ways:
People with OCD are aware that their behaviour is abnormal and are anxious about it. Most people with obsessive compulsive personality disorder think their behaviour is perfectly acceptable and have no desire to change it.
Some people with OCD are compelled to carry out rituals, such as having to touch every second lamppost as they walk down the street. This is not usually the case with people with obsessive compulsive personality disorder.
People with OCD may feel compelled to make lists or organise items in their house, but feel anxious about doing so. People with obsessive compulsive personality disorder find relief from anxiety when doing such tasks and may become irritated when prevented from doing so.
It’s probably ironic that the logo for the charity ‘OCD-UK’ makes me twitchy, but they do have a good page on What is NOT OCD, covering the difference between obsessive hobbies, addictive Impulse Control Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD).
As a side note, psychological research suggests that people on the high-functioning autism spectrum (think Bill Gates rather than Rainman), tend to do better on observation-based cognitive tests, and are prone to OCPD and obsessive interests.
My ‘OCD’ reading from Playbuzz
100% OCD Sensitive
OCD, OCD, OCD!
You have a killer eye for spotting the tiniest, most invisible inaccuracies, errors and mistakes. And it’s very important to you to correct them :)
This special combination is what makes you a perfectionist in everything you do. It’s great that you want things to go the right way and always ready to fight for it, but you also need to give yourself a break sometimes. It’s hard (and not always necessary) to be 100% perfect all the time.
How sensitive is your OCD radar?, by Monica Woods
