Grant JE, et al. - Given that obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is the most common personality disorder across the globe and is associated with heightened impulsivity and compulsivity, researchers examined if these findings extend to people with subsyndromal OCPD that may suggest pathogenic mechanisms contributing to the ultimate expression of full personality disorder. From the general community of two US cities, non-treatment seeking participants were recruited; they complete a detailed clinical assessment in addition to questionnaires and cognitive tests relating to impulsivity and compulsivity. Participants were divided into two groups: those with subsyndromal OCPD (n=104) and those without mental disorders (n=52). An association of subsyndromal OCD with impulsivity and compulsivity was noted in self-report questionnaires, but not in cognitive tasks. Interestingly, the extent of OCPD traits by self-report was indicated only by compulsivity scores, suggesting that impulsivity may constitute a vulnerability but not a severity marker. Overall, the investigators noted extremely high rates of morbid disorders in individuals with subsyndromal OCPD, which may indicate that such traits induce a propensity for other disorders.