title: A preliminary evaluation of cognitive-behaviour therapy for clinical perfectionism: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The construct of 'clinical perfectionism' has been developed in response to criticisms that other approaches have failed to yield advances in the treatment of the type of self-oriented perfectionism that poses a clinical problem. The primary aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a theory-driven, cognitive-behavioural intervention for 'clinical perfectionism'.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multiple baseline single case series design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A specific, 10-session cognitive-behavioural intervention to address clinical perfectionism in eating disorders was adapted to allow its use in nine patients referred with a range of axis I disorders and clinical perfectionism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention led to clinically significant improvements in self-referential perfectionism from pretreatment to follow-up for six of the nine participants on two perfectionism measures and for three of the nine participants on the measure of clinical perfectionism. Statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention for the group as a whole were found on all three measures. The improvements were maintained at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding that clinical perfectionism is improved in the majority of participants is particularly encouraging given that perfectionism has traditionally been viewed as a personality characteristic resistant to change. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a larger study.
authors.affiliation: Royal Holloway University of London, UK.
authors.forename: Dominic S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fairburn
authors.forename: Roz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome