OBJECTIVE: The construct of 'clinical perfectionism' has been developed in response to criticisms that other approaches have failed to yield advances in the treatment of the type of self-oriented perfectionism that poses a clinical problem. The primary aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a theory-driven, cognitive-behavioural intervention for 'clinical perfectionism'. DESIGN: A multiple baseline single case series design was used. METHOD: A specific, 10-session cognitive-behavioural intervention to address clinical perfectionism in eating disorders was adapted to allow its use in nine patients referred with a range of axis I disorders and clinical perfectionism. RESULTS: The intervention led to clinically significant improvements in self-referential perfectionism from pretreatment to follow-up for six of the nine participants on two perfectionism measures and for three of the nine participants on the measure of clinical perfectionism. Statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention for the group as a whole were found on all three measures. The improvements were maintained at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that clinical perfectionism is improved in the majority of participants is particularly encouraging given that perfectionism has traditionally been viewed as a personality characteristic resistant to change. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a larger study.
OBJECTIVE: The construct of 'clinical perfectionism' has been developed in response to criticisms that other approaches have failed to yield advances in the treatment of the type of self-oriented perfectionism that poses a clinical problem. The primary aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a theory-driven, cognitive-behavioural intervention for 'clinical perfectionism'. DESIGN: A multiple baseline single case series design was used. METHOD: A specific, 10-session cognitive-behavioural intervention to address clinical perfectionism in eating disorders was adapted to allow its use in nine patients referred with a range of axis I disorders and clinical perfectionism. RESULTS: The intervention led to clinically significant improvements in self-referential perfectionism from pretreatment to follow-up for six of the nine participants on two perfectionism measures and for three of the nine participants on the measure of clinical perfectionism. Statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention for the group as a whole were found on all three measures. The improvements were maintained at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that clinical perfectionism is improved in the majority of participants is particularly encouraging given that perfectionism has traditionally been viewed as a personality characteristic resistant to change. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a larger study.
Authors: Cheri A Levinson; Thomas L Rodebaugh; Erik A Shumaker; Andrew R Menatti; Justin W Weeks; Emily K White; Richard G Heimberg; Cortney S Warren; Carlos Blanco; Franklin Schneier; Michael R Liebowitz Journal: J Anxiety Disord Date: 2014-11-24
Authors: Anna M Bardone-Cone; Katrina Sturm; Melissa A Lawson; D Paul Robinson; Roma Smith Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Sarah J Egan; Roz Shafran; Michelle Lee; Christopher G Fairburn; Zafra Cooper; Helen A Doll; Robert L Palmer; Hunna J Watson Journal: Behav Cogn Psychother Date: 2015-03-03