Perfectionism as a transdiagnostic process: a clinical review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Perfectionism is recognized as a significant risk and maintaining factor in various mental health conditions.
• It plays a role in the development and persistence of eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence supporting perfectionism as a transdiagnostic process.
• To explore the role of perfectionism across different psychological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Literature review examining perfectionism across anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders.
• Analysis of data on perfectionism's association with psychopathology and treatment outcomes.
• Review of perfectionism conceptualizations, including a cognitive-behavioral model.
• Examination of evidence for perfectionism treatment efficacy.

Main Results:

• Perfectionism is elevated in individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders compared to healthy controls.
• Perfectionism increases vulnerability to eating disorders and maintains obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and depression.
• Elevated perfectionism is linked to the co-occurrence of psychopathology.
• Treatment targeting perfectionism has shown reductions in anxiety, depression, and eating pathology.

Conclusions:

• Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic factor contributing to multiple psychological disorders.
• Clinicians should routinely assess and treat perfectionism for improved patient outcomes.
• A cognitive-behavioral approach to perfectionism can aid in understanding and managing this transdiagnostic process.