A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism

This study is examining the efficacy of a computerized, exposure-based, intervention for perfectionism.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Perfectionism
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism; Behavioral: Stress Management

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to further test the efficacy of a short-term, computerized exposure-based treatment for perfectionism (ETP) by comparing it to a stress management condition. ETP consists of three tasks in which participants will repeatedly make mistakes during eight sessions over a two-week period (one session every 2 days).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 85
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 32306
      • Florida State University, Department of Psychology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Score of at least 29 on the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale- Concern over Mistakes subscale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently participating in psychotherapy
• Any changes to psychotropic medications in the past four weeks

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism; This arm consists of a 2-week computerized, exposure-based intervention. Treatment sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 treatment sessions total).	Behavioral: Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism; Three tasks focused on exposures are completed. Each treatment session is approximately twenty minutes.
Active Comparator: Stress Management Condition; This arm consists of a 2-week, computerized, stress-management condition in which participants watch videos of health habits (e.g., nutrition, exercise, sleep) and relaxation videos. These sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 sessions total).	Behavioral: Stress Management; Videos focused on education about healthy habits and relaxation. Each session is approximately twenty minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS)- Concern Over Mistakes Subscale	Self-report questionnaire examining levels of perfectionism. The concern over mistakes sub-scale includes 9 items with scores ranging from 9 to 45 (higher scores signify higher levels of perfectionism).	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)	Self-report measure used to assess depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating a higher level of depressive symptoms.	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)	Self-report scale that measures social anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 68 with higher scores indicating higher levels of social anxiety symptoms.	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
ED-15	Self-report scale that measures eating disorder symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher mean scores indicating higher levels of eating disorder symptoms.	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Irrational Procrastination Scale	Self-report scale that measures levels of procrastination. Scores range from 9 to 45 with higher scores indicating higher levels of procrastination.	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7	Self-report measure used to assess generalized anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating higher levels of generalized anxiety.	Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Florida State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jesse R Cougle, PhD, Florida State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 30, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): April 13, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00003084

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No