RecruitingACTRN12613001284752

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?


Sponsor

Senior Lecturer Dr. Sarah Egan, Principal investigator of the study

Enrollment

45 participants

Start Date

Feb 3, 2014

Study Type

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

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 18 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is testing a mental imagery-based therapy for people who struggle with clinical perfectionism — a pattern where setting and striving for high standards causes significant distress. Researchers are comparing three approaches: imagery-based cognitive therapy, standard cognitive therapy, and relaxation techniques, to see which best reduces perfectionism and related anxiety, depression, or eating concerns. You may be eligible if: - You are 18 years of age or older - You have high levels of perfectionism (score of 24.7 or greater on the Concern Over Mistakes Scale) - You have (or have had) a diagnosed mental health condition such as anxiety or depression - If you are on antidepressant medication, you have been on a stable dose for at least 2 months and agree to stay on the same dose during the study - You have not previously received specific treatment for perfectionism You may NOT be eligible if: - You have moderate to severe suicidal thoughts - You have a diagnosis of psychosis - You have a diagnosis of alcohol or substance dependence - You want to start other treatment for perfectionism during the study period Talk to your doctor about whether this trial might be right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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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 re

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)

WA, Australia

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ACTRN12613001284752