Is it common for people with Asperger Syndrome to be obsessive compulsive?

Question

Also... is anxiety common among aspies?

Answer 1

I would say more common that not.   There are medications available that can help reduce the symptoms.

Answer 2

There is a difference between the obsessive compulsive behaviors of aperson with Aspergers and someone with actual Obsessivre Complusive disorder

It has been found that the obsessive behavior in ASD does not respond to medication for OCD-often OCD meds can make it worse

It makes sense that someone with ASD would have anxiety as their relation to thw world is different from the ones that set it up (non ASD)

Answer 3

yes and yes

Answer 4

Though I've not been formally diagnosed with OCD, I do have certain topics that will come up that I will fixate on at the expense of everything else-sometimes everyone else. Eventually that topic will pass and a new one will take its place. Depression and anxiety are always with me but heighten during these periods. The anxiety is the worst and is ever present/ever intense. I take medication for that.

Answer 5

It is very common.

People with Asperger syndrome display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines or rituals, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects.

Pursuit of specific and narrow areas of interest is one of the most striking features of AS.[1] Individuals with AS may collect volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic such as dinosaurs or deep fat fryers, without necessarily having genuine understanding of the broader topic. For example, a child might memorize camera model numbers while caring little about photography. This behavior is usually apparent by grade school, typically age 5 or 6 in the United States. Although these special interests may change from time to time, they typically become more unusual and narrowly focused, and often dominate social interaction so much that the entire family may become immersed. Because topics such as dinosaurs often capture the interest of children, this symptom may go unrecognized.

Stereotyped and repetitive motor behaviors are a core part of the diagnosis of AS and other ASDs.They include hand movements such as flapping or twisting, and complex whole-body movements. These are typically repeated in longer bursts and look more voluntary or ritualistic than tics, which are usually faster, less rhythmical and less often symmetrical.

I have a cousin with Aspergers, and he is a very interesting guy!!! He's a great addition to our family, and brings humor into our lives!!

Answer 6

Yes it is a common feature of the condition, usually driven by sensory / perceptual distortions.  This is due to two malfunctioning neural systems in the lower brainstem and guess what, they are the same two systems which produce anxiety!

read this.  http://www.lulu.com/content/1225081

Go here  http://www.snowdrop.cc/info2.cfm?info_id...  - Autism

Hope this helps

Answer 7

I'm an aspie and I do.  However, since I've found out that I have aspergers, I have made a good effort to eliminate many, but not all, of my unnecessary obsessions, compulsions and rituals.  

Aspies are highly likely to get misdiagnosed as having OCD which is a completely different problem than aspergers.  They also tend to get misdiagnosed with SAD as well, but that's another question.