Anankastic personality: characteristics and relationship with mental health

As a general rule, all of us like the feeling of having everything under control. This feeling makes us feel good and motivates us when it comes to doing our daily tasks. However, there is a difference between this and that feeling becomes an obsessive need.

Something similar is what happens with the anankastic personality. Throughout this article we will talk about this obsessive personality type, as well as its main features, what factors can cause it and the possibility of treatment through psychotherapy.

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What is the anankastic personality?

We understand by anankastic personality that type of personality that is characterized by a pathological concern for order and perfectionism. In the same way these people are distinguished by the need for control both his own and those of the environment and a lack of flexibility and open-mindedness, although all this interferes in his day-to-day life or in his work and social efficiency.

For these people, decision-making can become a slow and even painful process. The reason is that they have such difficulty deciding the priority of their tasks or how is the best way to organize themselves that they may not start the task at all, due to the need to perform it in a perfect.

Behavior within the anankastic personality is also characterized by sudden outbursts of rage or anger in those circumstances in which the person feels that he does not have control of her physical or interpersonal environment. However, this anger does not usually manifest itself in an aggressive way, but through constant negative ruminations or mood swings.

Regarding interpersonal relationships, individuals with ananchastic personality express their affections in a in a highly controlled and forced manner, and may feel very uncomfortable in the presence of other people emotionally expressive. Their daily relationships are characterized by being formal and serious, which can lead to uncomfortable situations for other people who perceive them as rigid and excessively surly.

This personality type can be considered as a disorderas it is an enduring pattern of internal experience and behavior that deviates from the cultural norms of the person. This pattern is enduring and inflexible, as well as constant through personal and social situations.

The main consequence of this type of personality is related to a significant deterioration of the person both social level as well as work or other areas of functioning, which can lead to strong feelings of anguish and frustration.

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Main traits or symptoms of this personality

As mentioned in the previous point, the anankastic personality is characterized mainly by an excessive concern for order and perfectionism. However, there is a whole variety of traits that define these people. In order to determine that there is an anankastic personality pattern, at least four of the following traits must be present:

• Excessive concern with details, rules, lists, order, organization and / or schedules to the point of affecting the main activity or task.
• Perfectionism that interferes with the completion of the task.
• Excessive dedication to work and productivity, excluding leisure activities and friendships.
• They are overly conscientious, scrupulous and inflexible in matters of morality, ethics or values.
• It is impossible for them to get rid of worn or worthless objects, neither practical nor sentimental.
• They are reluctant to work with other people and delegate tasks unless others do things the way they want them to.
• They perceive money as a good that must be accumulated, not spent; so they tend to be greedy or stingy in the eyes of others.
• Show significant stubbornness and stiffness.

Traditionally, the anankastic personality is usually diagnosed once the person is already an adult, with the most serious symptoms manifesting between 40 and 50 years of age.

In very few cases it is perceived in childhood or adolescence due to the constant changes in development and personality typical of maturation. However, in those cases in which symptoms similar to the above are perceived, these must last for at least one year to be considered a disorder as such.

Finally, it tends to appear with a higher incidence in men than in women and it is estimated that it is present, approximately, in between 2.1 and 7.9 percent of the general population.

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How does it develop?

So far, studies have not been able to clarify exactly what causes or how the anankastic personality develops. However, there are a large number of hypotheses and theories that attempt to answer this question.

The vast majority of theorists agree on the influence of biopsychosocial causal factors. This means that among the causes that favor the development of this type of personality are both biological and genetic factors, as social factors such as the type of interaction with other people and relatives, and psychological factors such as personality, temperament Y coping skills and stress management.

This means that there is no single factor responsible for the anankastic personality, but rather a complex combination of both personal and environmental factors can beprobably the basis for the development of this disorder.

Can it be treated?

First of all, we must bear in mind that this personality does not always affect the day-to-day of the person and that they will only require assistance or treatment for those patients in whom it does pose a problem, wear and tear or interference for social, family or labor.

In the event that the patient, or someone close, requests professional help, treatment for anankastic personality is based on intervention through psychotherapy long-term. It is necessary that this therapy be carried out by a professional expert in personality disorders, more specifically in obsessive-compulsive disorders (TOC).

In the most serious cases, it can even be administer medication to help lessen the most troublesome and debilitating symptoms, as well as to alleviate the anxiety symptoms that, in some cases, can appear with this disorder.