Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and the Enigmatic Personality of Emperor Tiberius

Abstract

<p>Numerous studies have been conducted on the principate of Emperor Tiberius, but only one study conducted by G. Maranon in 1956, has examined his personality. The methods that were used in this study are no longer applicable to modern psychiatry and the details of Tiberius' personality begged for a reexamination. A thorough examination of the ancient sources was made and all of Tiberius' personality traits were considered and a complete diagnosis using the five modern psychiatric axes was made. The findings of this careful study found that Tiberius suffered from a premorbid Axis II Obssessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, with a later onset of Axis I, Major Depressive Disorder, Substance Abuse (Alcohol), and Event-caused Persecutory Delusional Disorder, and Axis III Myocardial Infarction (Heart-Attack). This updated diagnosis is particularly favourable since it strengthens the arguments which have previously been made by modern scholarship, about his political and economic policies, as well as his administrative skills. These findings also account for a variety of anomalies which modern scholarship has chosen to reject without good reason such as his sexual conduct, and actions at Rhodes. Finally, as a means of verifying this study, all conclusions and findings have been verified by a practicing psychiatrist to ensure that the data herein was properly analyzed.</p>