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Related Experiment Video

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Guided self-help versus pure self-help for perfectionism: a randomised controlled trial.

Jessica Pleva¹, Tracey D Wade

¹School of Psychology, Flinders University, PO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia, Australia. Jessica.Pleva@flinders.edu.au

Behaviour Research and Therapy

|October 3, 2006

Summary

Cognitive-behavioural self-help therapies effectively reduce perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive (OC), and depressive symptoms. Guided self-help (GSH) showed superior results compared to pure self-help (PSH), with sustained benefits at follow-up.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Perfectionism is a recognized risk factor for obsessive-compulsive (OC) and depressive symptoms.
Self-help interventions are increasingly explored for managing psychological distress.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioural self-help therapy for perfectionism.
To assess the impact of this therapy on OC and depressive symptoms.
To compare guided self-help (GSH) with pure self-help (PSH) approaches.

Main Methods:

A comparative study involving two self-help conditions: guided self-help (GSH, n=24) and pure self-help (PSH, n=25).
Assessment of perfectionism, OC, and depressive symptomatology before, during, and after the intervention period.
A 3-month follow-up assessment to evaluate the maintenance of treatment gains.

Main Results:

Both GSH and PSH significantly reduced perfectionism, OC, and depressive symptoms.
GSH demonstrated greater symptom improvement compared to PSH.
Treatment gains were largely maintained at the 3-month follow-up.
A notable finding was that 20% of PSH participants experienced increased depressive symptoms, versus 0% in the GSH group.

Conclusions:

Self-help interventions for perfectionism are effective in alleviating OC and depressive symptoms in non-clinical populations.
Guided self-help (GSH) is a superior approach to pure self-help (PSH) for managing perfectionism and associated symptoms.
GSH offers a safer and more effective self-help strategy, particularly concerning depressive symptomology.