Muscle dysmorphia in males with obsessive-compulsive disorder and personality disorder

¶ … symptomatic correlation between Muscle Dysmorphia in male individuals with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and those same males associated with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Symptoms

Personality Disorders

Categories of Personality Disorders

122.3 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in Men

133.0 Research Questions and Methodology

133.1 Research Questions

It has been found that men have an issue with their appearance, a problem commonly associated with women. An increasing number of men in the society are in most cases concerned with the image of their bodies. Studies have indicated that dissatisfaction with the image of the body is on the increase. Many students from the men's side are encountering a lot of eating disorders for the reason of keeping up with the perfect image of the body of the society. "Dysmorphia" has been a major problem in the population of males (Morgan, 2008). Dysmorphia simply lays its focus on a body image "obsessional preoccupation." A person with such a disorder would see a section of their body as bad looking. This dissertation paper seeks to investigate the causal and symptomatic correlation between Muscle Dysmorphia in male individuals with OCD and those same males associated with OCPD.

In males this particular type of dysmorphia is referred to as muscle dysmorphia and has become a great issue. Muscle dysmorphia is a consequence of an obsessive compulsive figure or image of the tone of muscle of an individual. Having this disorder in an individual may lead that person to a point of going an extra step in forming the image the individual is looking for. These efforts cause danger to the body of that person like damaging the body mentally as well as physically (Chung, 2001).

2.0 Literature review

Obsessions

Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress

The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action. The person recognizes that the obsession thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly are what in most cases are compulsive. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive (American Psychiatric Association, 2007).

2.2 Personality Disorders

On the other hand, Paranoid Personality Disorder, Schizoid Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder are among the many personality disorders that are affecting many people today. A personality disorder is inflexible, maladaptive patterns of thoughts; emotions, behavior, and interpersonal functioning that are stable over time and across situations, and deviate from the expectations of the individual's culture. Men's anxiety in body dysmorphia has really been a matter that could be classified as one of these (American Psychiatric Association, 2007).

2.2.1 Categories of Personality Disorders

They are grouped into three different clusters.

i. Cluster A: The odd and eccentric includes the Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders. The men in this category will in most cases appear eccentric or odd.

ii. Cluster B: The dramatic, emotional, or erratic cluster includes the Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. The men in this group apparently are emotional, dramatic or even erratic iii. Cluster C: The anxious, fearful cluster includes Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders. The men here will be found anxious or else fearful.

The necessary feature of Paranoid personality Disorder is a pattern of persuasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that there motives are interpreted as malevolent. This pattern begins in early adulthood and is present in everyday life. About 3% of the general populations display this disorder, which most frequently occurs in men. People with this disorder assume that other people will exploit harm, or deceive them, even if no evidence is present to support this expectation. They often feel that they have been deeply and irreversibly injured by another person even though there is no evidence for this. These individuals are also inattentive with unjustifiable doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of their friends and associates, whose actions are minutely scrutinized for evidence of adverse intentions (American Psychiatric Association, 2007).

Men with this disorder also are unwilling to confide in or become close to others because they fear that the problem they have concerning their muscle dysmorphia will be used against them. They read hidden meanings that are demeaning and threatening into benign remarks or events. Example: an individual with this disorder may misinterpret an honest mistake by a store clerk as a contemplated attempt to shortchange or may view an unexpected humorous remark by a co-worker as a serious character attack (Johnston, 1994). People with this disorder also persistently hold grudges and are unwilling to forgive the insults and injuries that they think they have received.

Minor insults stimulate major hostility, and these hostile feelings last for a long time. Many people with this disorder may be pathologically jealous. They are often suspecting their spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful with any sufficient justification or believe in infidelity of their close associates without enough proof. People with Paranoid Personality Disorder are very difficult to get along with. They in most cases develop problems with those they relate with closely. Although these individuals may appear to be objective, rational, and unemotional, they more often show a labile range of affect, with hostile, stubborn, and sarcastic expressions prevailing.

Because they lack trust in others, they have an excessive need to be self-sufficient and a strong sense of autonomy. These individuals do not take stressful situations very well. They may experience very brief psychotic episodes that can last from minutes to hours. The necessary feature of Schizoid Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings. This pattern begins by early adulthood and is present in everyday life.

Schizoid Personality Disorder is diagnosed slightly more often in men than women and may cause more impairment in them. People with this disorder appear to lack a desire for intimacy, seem uncaring to opportunities to develop close relationships, and do not seem to obtain much satisfaction from being part of a family or other social group. Such men prefer to spend time by themselves. They frequently appear to be socially isolated. They always choose solitary activities or hobbies that do not include interaction with others. They may have very little interest in sexual experiences with another person. These men have no close associates, confidants or friends leave alone a first-degree next of kin.

Unlike Paranoid Personality Disorder men with Schizoid Personality Disorder often seem unconcerned to the approval or criticism of others and do not appear to be bothered by what others may think of them. They assert that they seldom experience any strong emotions like joy or anger (Brown & Esther, 1989). They often display a constricted affect and appear cold and contemptuous. Yet, in those very unusual circumstances in which these individuals become at least temporarily comfortable in revealing themselves, they may reveal having painful feelings, particularly related to social interactions.

Researchers assert that Schizoid Personality Disorder should not be diagnosed if the pattern of behavior takes place exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder with Psychotic Features, another Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder or if it is due to the direct physiological effects of a neurological or other general medical condition. Schizoid Personality Disorder could have increased dominance in the relatives of persons with Schizotypal Personality Disorder or Schizophrenia.

The necessary feature of Dependent Personality Disorder is a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that which leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation. This pattern begins by early adulthood and is present in everyday life. This disorder has been diagnosed most frequently in women than men. However, some other studies using structural assessments report similar prevalence rates among males and females.

Men with Dependent Personality Disorder have a big trouble making daily decisions. Example: What color shirt they should wear to work or if they should bring an umbrella with them. These things are all done in the effort of determining the image of the body they want to present to the society. These individuals tend to be submissive and allow other men to take the initiative and assume responsibility for most major areas in their lives. Many male adults with this disorder depend on a parent or a spouse to decide where they should live and, what kind of job they should have (Brown & Esther, 1989).

Adolescents boys with this disorder usually allow there parents or parent to pick out what they should wear, choose a school or college for them; pick out what men to associate with, and how they should spend there free time. Dependent Personality Disorder may occur in a person who has a serious general medical condition or disability. In such particular cases the problem in taking full responsibility should go further than what would generally be coupled with that condition or else disability.

Since men with Dependent Personality Disorders fear losing support or approval, they often have difficulty expressing disagreement with other men, especially those who are dependent (Johnston, 1994). As a result of this, these individuals feel so unable to function alone and will agree with things that they think are wrong. Individuals with this disorder have difficulty working on projects or doing things alone. They are convinced that they are incapable of functioning independently and present themselves as inept. However, they are likely to function adequately if given the assurance that someone else is watching and approving them.

When a close relationship ends such as a breakup with a lover or the death of a caregiver an individual with Dependent Personality disorder may instantly seek another relationship to provide the care and support that they need. They are often distracted with fears of being left to care for themselves. The necessary feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency (Barlow & Durand, 2006). This pattern begins in early adulthood and is present in everyday life. This disorder appears to be diagnosed about twice as often in males.

2.3 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder in Men

Men with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder try to maintain a sense of control by paying attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, lists, schedules, or form to the extent that the major activity is lost. They are excessively careful and prone to repetition, paying a large amount of attention to detail and repeatedly checking for possible mistakes. These men are oblivious to the fact that other men tend to get mad or become annoyed at the details and inconveniencies that result from this behavior. These men leave there most important jobs for the last minute (Morgan, 2008). They may get so involved in making a project perfect that the project is never finished.

These men with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders show a large abundance of devotion to work and productivity which excludes time for leisure activities and friendships. They may keep postponing a delightful activity, such as a vacation, so that it may never occur. However, if they do take time off for leisure activities or vacations they feel very uncomfortable unless they have taken along some work for them so they won't "waste any time." They may go out with friends but only if it is a formally organized activity.

Men with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders are sometimes called pack rats. They sometimes are unable to throw out worn-out objects even if they have no sentimental value. Also, with these men, there sometimes can be a high concentration on house chores. They may be miserly and stingy and maintain a standard of living below what they can afford. They believe that spending must be tightly controlled to provide for future catastrophes. These men can also be very stubborn and rigid (Abramowitz, 2006). They are so concerned about having things done the right way that they have trouble going along with other individual's ideas.

3.0 Research Questions and Methodology

3.1 Research Questions

This methodology is designed to account for: 1) the common traits of those with muscle dysmorphia; 2) the signs and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia; 3) the causal and symptomatic correlation between Muscle Dysmorphia in male individuals with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and those same males associated with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD); 4) the side effects of these disorders; 5) the cure of a person with muscle dysmorphia.

3.2 Methodology

i. Secondary sources

I recommend extending this procedure of making significant research by the use of thick description to human disorder in books, magazines, newsletters and journals as a perfect methodology. Secondary sources provide substantial information on the issues surrounding obsessive compulsive disorders as well as personality disorders and how they interrelate.

Secondary sources help in getting a track record of the disorders in question and therefore act as a guideline for the person carrying out the research. They are useful in directing the research in the initial study to establish the foundation needed for the main study. These secondary sources have also been useful for comparison purposes in occasions where the research needs clarification on main points.

ii. Qualitative research

I also propose the use of qualitative research by adopting an ethnographic approach to data collection, with interviews which will semi-structured as the main method. The main idea to be researched here is to establish the causal and symptomatic correlation between

Muscle Dysmorphia in male individuals with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and those same males associated with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD).

This qualitative research goes against the grain of using numerical data to obtain results.

The approach used will be organized in a narrative or words to discover themes and relationships in a non-numerical way.

Qualitative data is that which is not easily measurable and it is not completely objective but may require judgment and interpretation. The researcher has should play an important role in the experiment unintentionally by interpreting the results; although as the research data analysis of the results should be completed by getting reference to many other sources and thus, it is felt that this will increase the rigor and validity of this qualitative work.

The ethnographic approach to this work is most appropriate as both sets of participants

(men with OCD and OCPD) are all human beings. This means that general patterns of experiences with these disorders are compatible -- except in different or exceptional contexts. Throughout the study justification is given for actions. Answers for questions which the researcher may have to ask are will be answered giving this research rigor and validity. However if being very critical, one could mention that this is not a valid time scale and therefore could be a weakness also.

The study's aim is to identify the causal and symptomatic correlation between Muscle

Dysmorphia in male individuals with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and those same males associated with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD).

Information for this research will be gathered using an ethnographic approach. To do this observation plus detailed field notes will be taken. In this stage of the research, (the dissertation) the information is very superficial but does give an interest to continue dig deep into it.

This qualitative researcher should blend and montage to form a new comprehensive creation or a new meaningful whole out of distinct parts of what is being studying or in other words out of reality. The researcher thus can be described as a quilt-maker; a quilt-maker who as he or she is expected to use a muti-method approach to compose a complex, and richer study of the issues men in building their body image.

Consequently it has no essential definition, for it is never just one thing. It apparently attempts to define cultural and social studies. After that, some academic and disciplinary resistances to qualitative research are studied and followed by a discussion of the major differences in research styles between qualitative and quantitative approaches.

In brief, qualitative approach emphasizes value, ethnographic prose, rich descriptions, answering the "how" question… On the other hand, the quantitative approach emphasizes measurements, value-free, analysis of relationships, objective, empirical methods, impersonal third person prose

The history of qualitative research is summarized in several eras. In each of these eras, the researchers have been influenced by their political hopes and ideologies, discovering findings in their research that confirmed prior theories or beliefs.

Qualitative research in the first place focused on the objective, the norms, and the classical ethnography. Later on the modernist phase known by the "golden age" followed.

The second era stressed the analysis of the qualitative materials in standardized statistical forms. The blurred genres gave way to a more pluralistic, open ended perspective.

The scientific form of the golden age ended on the door steps of a wide range of paradigms, and ways of collecting and analyzing empirical materials. The fourth moment or the crisis of representation in the mid-1980s was the result of the blurred genres. The researcher in this study should question the models of truth, methods, and representations in establishing the plight of men who have increasingly had problems with their body image.

However, the administration of questionnaires and the conduction of interviews in this particular case may be limited where the patient is taken as the respondent. It will be very hard in getting responses from a person with obsessive compulsive disorder because of the characteristics aforementioned in the literature review section.

Such kind of people would want to lead private lives without disturbances. Information therefore could be got from people who are close associates or else next of kin to the patient. There, it will be a prudent idea for the person carrying out the research to focus more on the people who are often found around the patient that going ahead to get information directly from the patient.