Anancastic personality: characteristics and relationship to mental health.

This personality pattern is characterized by rigidity and the need for constant control.

As a general rule, all people like the feeling of having everything under control. This feeling makes us feel good and motivates us to perform our daily tasks. However, there is a difference between this and this feeling becoming an obsessive need.

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

What is the ananchastic personality?

We understand by an ananchastic personality that type of personality that is characterized by a pathological preoccupation with order and perfectionism. In the same way these people are distinguished by a need for control, both of themselves and their and the environment and a lack of flexibility and open-mindedness, even if this interferes in their daily life or in their work and social efficiency.

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

The behavior within the anancastic personality is also characterized by Sudden outbursts of anger or rage. in those circumstances in which the person feels that he or she is not in control of his or her physical or interpersonal environment. However, this anger does not usually manifest itself in an aggressive manner, but rather through mood swings or constant negative ruminations.

In terms of interpersonal relationships, individuals with an anancastic personality express their affections in a highly controlled and forced manner, and may feel very uncomfortable in the presence of other emotionally expressive people. 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 sullen.

This type of personality may even be considered a disorder, as it is a pattern ofIt is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the individual's cultural norms. Such a pattern is enduring and inflexible, as well as constant across personal and social situations.

The main consequence of this personality type is related to a significant deterioration of the person both socially and occupationally or in other areas of functioning, which can lead to strong feelings of distress and frustration.

Main traits or symptoms of this personality

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

• Excessive preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization and/or schedules to the point of affecting the main activity or task.
• Perfectionism that comes to interfere with task completion..
• Excessive dedication to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships.
• They are excessively conscientious, scrupulous and inflexible.Scrupulous and inflexible in matters of morality, ethics or values.
• They find it impossible to get rid of worn-out objects or objects of no practical or sentimental value.
• They are reluctant to work with others and to delegate tasks unless others do things as they wish.
• They perceive money as a commodity to be hoarded, not spent, so they tend to be greedy or stingy in the sight of others.
• They show significant stubbornness and rigidity..

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

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

Finally, it usually appears with greater 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.

How does it develop?

At the moment, studies have not been able to clarify exactly what the cause is or how the anancastic 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 favoring the development of this type of personality are Biological and genetic factors, as well as social factors such as the type of interaction with other people and family members, and psychological factors such as personality, temperament, coping and management skills. coping and stress management skills..

This means that there is no single factor responsible for an anancastic personality, but rather a complex combination of both personal and psychological factors. a complex combination of both personal and environmental factors may be the basis for the development of an anancastic personality.probably 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 person's daily life and that only those patients in whom it does pose a problem, wear and tear or interference for social, family or work development will require assistance or treatment.

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

In the most severe cases, medication may even be administered to help reduce the symptoms. medication to help reduce the most problematic and debilitating symptoms, as well as to alleviate the symptoms of OCD.and to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety that, in some cases, can appear with this disorder.