As interest in mental health increases among the general population, so does the use of psychiatric diagnostic labels. People use labels to categorize and identify traits that they may display, and self-labeling has been seen to affect behavior. Though public knowledge of personality disorder diagnostic criteria has remained low, increased interest provides an opportunity to study current knowledge and stigma. Participants (N=127; ages 18-65) completed an online survey assessing knowledge of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), stigma, and self-labeling behaviors. Participants were sorted into three groups: those diagnosed with OCPD, those who self-labeled, and an undiagnosed comparison group. Results indicated that diagnosed individuals demonstrated the greatest knowledge of OCPD, while self-labelers reported significantly higher internal stigma than those formally diagnosed, suggesting that receiving a clinical diagnosis may serve a protective function against internalized stigma. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce stigma surrounding OCPD.
