Perfectionism, psychosocial impact and coping with irritable bowel disease: a study of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The current research examined trait perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, coping styles and sickness impact in 51 patients with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Our results confirmed that trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation were associated with greater sickness impact. Moreover, the link between perfectionism and the psychosocial impact of illness was still evident after controlling for neuroticism, optimism and the physical impact of the disease. Perfectionism was also associated with emotional preoccupation coping. The results suggest that perfectionism is a factor that is associated with maladaptive coping and it amplifies the reported impact of irritable bowel diseases.