Perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders
Berta Rodrigues Maia1, Maria João Soares, Ana Gomes
1Institute of Medical Psychology, School of Medicine, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. bmaia@fmed.uc.pt
Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
|May 26, 2011
Summary
Perfectionism is elevated across obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and depression/anxiety. Socially-prescribed perfectionism is notably higher in eating disorders, suggesting a specific link requiring further study.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high standards.
- Previous research suggests a link between perfectionism and various psychopathological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare dimensions of perfectionism in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (ED) against psychiatric (depression/anxiety) and non-clinical controls.
- To investigate the specificity of perfectionism's relationship with these clinical conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS).
- Compared scores across four groups: OCD (n=39), ED (n=24), depression/anxiety (n=65), and non-clinical controls (n=70).
Main Results:
- All clinical groups exhibited significantly higher MPS total scores, Self-Oriented Perfectionism, and Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism compared to non-clinical controls.
- No significant differences were found in Self-Oriented Perfectionism or MPS total score among the three clinical groups.
- Individuals with eating disorders showed significantly higher Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism than those with OCD and psychiatric controls.
Conclusions:
- Perfectionism is associated with a wide spectrum of psychopathologies, including OCD, ED, and depression/anxiety.
- The elevated Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism in eating disorders compared to other clinical groups warrants further investigation to understand its specific role.
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