Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), known as Anankastic Personality Disorder in the ICD-11, receives far less public attention than anxiety or depression. Yet a 2022 meta-analysis drawing on 46 studies and more than 89,000 people worldwide found it to be one of the more common personality patterns, with an estimated global prevalence of about 6.5%.
The rate is higher again in psychiatric and clinical populations. The researchers also found that prevalence has stayed fairly stable across nearly three decades of research, suggesting a consistent pattern across countries and cultures rather than a recent trend.
One reason this matters is that OCPD can be easy to miss. Traits such as perfectionism, rigid rule-following, difficulty delegating and an intense work ethic are often admired, particularly in high-achieving workplaces. Because of this, a person can go for years without recognising that what looks like conscientiousness has become something that limits their relationships, flexibility or capacity for enjoyment.
If parts of this description feel familiar, either for you or for someone close to you, that experience is a common one. Given how widespread these traits appear to be, there is a genuine need for good support. A psychologist can help you think through whether what you are noticing fits this pattern, and talk with you about what steps might help from there.