Unless this person has been diagnosed by a specialist in the field then no one should think this person is has a mental illness. There are other diseases that can cause this problem and also neurological problems. OCD is a disorder where the person will repeat certain things they do.
They can wash their hands several times a day, or open and shut curtains for no apparent reason and there are many other signs. Somewhere in the brain what is common for most of us (habits in our lives) becomes a compulsion for people who have OCD. As far as this person calling someone by the opposite of what they are it's hard to pin-point it If this person is a spouse, family member or friend try getting to a doctor so they can be referred to a specialist.It's important!
This person doesn't mean to be the way they are so don't take it personally and try to cope the best you can with the annoyance of what they do.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.