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Cited by 336Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety StudiesObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Perfectionism in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients

Open access
Frost, Randy O., Steketee, Gail·1997·Behaviour Research and Therapy
DOI 10.1016/s0005-7967(96)00108-8
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Abstract

Considerable theory and anecdotal evidence has suggested that patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are more perfectionistic. Evidence with non-clinical populations supports this hypothesis. However, no data are available on levels of perfectionism among patients diagnosed with OCD. The present study extends findings on perfectionism and OCD by comparing perfectionism levels of OCD-diagnosed patients with those of non-patients and a group of patients diagnosed with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA). As predicted, patients with OCD had significantly elevated scores on Total Perfectionism, Concern Over Mistakes, and Doubts About Actions compared to non-patients controls. However, they did not differ from patients with PDA on Total Perfectionism or Concern Over Mistakes. Patients with OCD did have higher Doubts Actions scores than those with PDA. The implications for role of perfectionism in OCD and other anxiety disorders are discussed.

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  • Compulsions reduce discomfort in the short term but are negatively reinforced and ultimately maintain the misappraisals.

    “Although these compulsions reduce discomfort in the short term, they are negatively reinforced and ultimately serve to maintain the misappraisals.”

    From Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Introduction discusses perfectionistic beliefs and checking rituals, and the Discussion relates doubts about actions to checking. Neither passage says that compulsions provide short-term relief, are negatively reinforced, or maintain misappraisals; searches for those mechanisms found no supporting passage in our copy. The source therefore does not establish the attributed claim. (LLM, conf=0.74)

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  • Misappraisals of intrusions as personally significant, meaningful or dangerous lead to anxiety or discomfort and provoke maladaptive responses such as compulsions.

    “However, misappraisals of intrusions as personally significant, meaningful or dangerous, lead to anxiety or discomfort, and provoke maladaptive responses (e.g., compulsions) to alleviate distress [6].”

    From Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Introduction discusses perfectionism and checking rituals, and the Measures section describes a compulsive-activity checklist; neither addresses misappraisals of intrusive thoughts causing distress and compulsions. Searches for intrusions, appraisal, distress, and compulsive responses found no passage stating the claimed sequence. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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Flagged first, then by citations

3 of the 35 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Blatt, S. J., Quinlan, D. M., Pilkonis, P. A., & Shea, M. T. (1995). Impact of Perfectionism and need for approval on the brief treatment of depression, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psycholy. 63, 125-132.
  2. Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Blankstein, K. R., & Gray, L. (1994). The frequency of perfectionistic thinking and depressive symptomology. Manuscript under review.
  3. Hewitt, P. L,, & Flett, G. L. (1991). Perfectionism and depression: A multidimensional analysis. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 5, 423-438.
  4. Spitzer, R., Williams, J., Gibbon, M., & First, M. (1990). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-lll-R--Patient Edition (Version 1.0). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
  5. Steketee, G. (1990). Personality traits and diagnoses in OCD. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 4, 351-364.

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Authors
Frost, R. O., & Steketee, G.
Affiliations
  • Smith College (US)
  • Boston University (US)
Corresponding author
Frost, Randy O.
ORCID
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1997-04
Volume
35
Issue
4
Pages
291-296
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0005-7967(96)00108-8
OpenAlex
W2085235260
Cited by
335
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 13
FWCI
7.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Smith ScholarWorks (Smith College) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, anxiety disorders
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Agoraphobia, Analysis of Variance, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Personal Satisfaction, Self-Assessment, Chi-Square Distribution, Case-Control Studies, Panic Disorder

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