A preliminary evaluation of cognitive-behaviour therapy for clinical perfectionism: a case series

Glover, D.S., Brown, G.P., Fairburn, C.G. and Shafran, R. (2007) A preliminary evaluation of cognitive-behaviour therapy for clinical perfectionism: a case series. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46 (1). pp. 85-94. ISSN 0144-6657 doi: 10.1348/014466506X117388

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/14045
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords	PSYCHOTHERAPY, DEPRESSION, DISORDERS, SHAFRAN, HEWITT
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