A randomised controlled trial of individual imagery based cognitive-behavioural therapy for clinical perfectionism
In adults with clinical perfectionism, does a single individual imagery cognitive-behavioural therapy session reduce clinical perfectionism and related psychological symptoms when compared to individual cognitive therapy and relaxation?
Senior Lecturer Dr. Sarah Egan, Principal investigator of the study
45 participants
Feb 3, 2014
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
This project will primarily examine whether an individual mental imagery based treatment for distressing mental images related to clinical perfectionism is better than receiving a standard cognitive treatment technique or relaxation techniques in a) reducing individuals' levels of clinical perfectionism, b) reducing the impact and distress caused by negative mental imagery and, c) reducing their symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or eating concerns and It is predicted that the mental imagery individual treatment will lead to greater reductions in clinical perfectionism, greater reductions in imagery distress, frequency, and intensity experienced, and psychological symptoms compared to the standard cognitive disputation technique and relaxation. Additionally this project will examine whether individual mental imagery psychological treatment for clinical perfectionism produces treatment-related change in each individual and whether this is clinically significant.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria1
- Aged 18 years or older. Not have undergone specific treatment for perfectionism prior to starting the study. Have met or currently meet a diagnosis of an Axis I disorder. They must have been stable on any anti-depressant medication/s for a minimum of two months prior to commencement of the study, and be willing to remain on the same medication for the duration of the study (if applicable). Clinical levels of perfectionism as defined by a score of 24.7 or greater on the Concern Over Mistakes Scale (Frost et al., 1990)
Exclusion Criteria1
- Moderate to severe suicidality section of the MINI (Sheehan et al., 1998a). Meeting the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for psychosis. Meeting the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for alcohol/substance dependence. Adults who wish to receive treatment for perfectionism prior to commencement or duration of the study.
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Interventions
There are two separate intervention groups Intervention group 1: Individual imagery rescripting based cognitive behavioural therapy for clinical perfectionism. In this intervention participants receive 1 x 2 hour sessions of individual therapy, where they explore and manipulate distressing mental imagery related to clinical perfectionism. The strategies are derived from the book Oxford guide to imagery in cognitive therapy (Hackmann, Bennett-Levy, & Holmes, 2011) Intervention group 2: Individual cognitive restructuring based cognitive behavioural therapy for clinical perfectionism. In this intervention participants receive 1 x 2 hour sessions of individual therapy, where they explore distressing mental imagery related to clinical perfectionism and use cognitive disputations to re-evaluate their appraisal of the images. The strategies are derived from the book Overcoming Perfectionism (Shafran, Egan, & Wade, 2010)
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12613001284752