Perfectionism and sense of coherence among patients with eating disorders.
BACKGROUND
There is a substantial body of research on eating disorders and perfectionism. Also there are several studies on eating disorders and sense of coherence (SOC), but studies regarding all three subjects are sparse. Perfectionism and the degree of SOC are considered central and aggravating aspects of psychiatric conditions, not least in relation to eating disorders.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to describe the relationship between perfectionism as operationalized by Garner in the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and SOC as defined by Antonovsky in the SOC-29 scale. The hypothesis was that SOC should be negatively associated with perfectionism.


METHODS
Data from the two self-measuring instruments collected from 95 consecutively recruited eating disorder outpatients were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics.


RESULTS
The patients in the present study scored consistently with other Swedish eating disorder samples on the Perfectionism subscale in the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-P) and on the SOC-29, indicating a higher degree of perfectionism and weaker SOC than normal population groups. Perfectionism was significantly correlated to SOC. The correlation was negative, confirming the study hypothesis. The hypothesis was further confirmed in a subgroup analysis comparing patients with different degrees of SOC related to their EDI-P scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Perfectionism is associated with SOC in patients with eating disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical implications derived from the study could be a recommendation to focus on the SOC in patients with an eating disorder with the hope of lowering the patients' perfectionism as well.
Suzanne Petersson, clinical psychologist, M.Sc., AnorexiBulimiCenter, Division of Psychiatry, Kalmar County Council and Department of Psychology, Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
Suzanne
S
Petersson
Kent-Inge
KI
Perseius
Per
P
Johnsson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Eating disorders; Perfectionism; Sense of coherence; Treatment