Clinical trial NCT05700786: Mindful Compassion for Perfectionism
Official title: Mindful Compassion for Perfectionism: A Waiting-list Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Perfectionism
Keywords: perfectionism
mindfulness
self-criticism
group psychotherapy
Lead sponsor: Tages Onlus
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-01-26
Enrollment: 76
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Pragmatic waiting-list randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to confirm the feasibility of an integrative form of group psychotherapy in treating perfectionism. In a previous pilot study we suggested that this new treatment is safe and feasible, also reporting a significant reduction of perfectionism at final assessment. The intervention integrates the Paul Hewitt relational model of perfectionism and the Paul Gilbert Compassion Focused Therapy. We will explore the feasibility of the proposed group therapy through a three-arm waiting-list randomized controlled trial. Our hypothesis is that those in the treatment groups (either online or in presence format) will show at the end of the intervention a lower level of perfectionsm than those in the control group.

Detailed description: After being informed about the study and potential risks, all partecipants giving written informed consent will undergo a psychological assessment so as to determine eligibility for study entry. Patients who meet the eligibility requirements will be randomized in a double-blind manner in a 1:1 ratio to (i) new integrative group psychotherapy through an in presence format, (ii) the same integrative group psychotherapy through an online format, (iii) a waiting-list control group. At the end of active experimental groups treatment (2 months), all the partecipants will have access to the final follow-up assessment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being aged between 18 and 30
* Reporting at least a clinically significant value at Multidimensional Perfectionsm Scale (at least one of the dimensions must have scores equal to or greater than the clinical population mean of the questionnaire manual)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental or schizophrenia/psychosis spetrum disoders;
* Being under either psychiatric or psychological treatment

Primary outcomes:
measure: Feasibility (adverse events; adherence)
timeFrame: 2 measurements: one at baseline assessment; one at final assessment. Initial assessment will be 1 month priori the intervention, the final assessment at the end of the intervention (2 months after the beginning of the intervention).
measure: Betwen-groups effectiveness (perfectionism)
timeFrame: 2 measurements: one at baseline assessment; one at final assessment. Initial assessment will be 1 month priori the intervention, the final assessment at the end of the intervention (2 months after the beginning of the intervention).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Withing-group effectiveness (perfectionism)
timeFrame: 2 measurements: one at baseline assessment; one at final assessment. Initial assessment will be 1 month priori the intervention, the final assessment at the end of the intervention (2 months after the beginning of the intervention).
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Firenze
country: Italy
facility: Centro di Psicologia e Psicoterapia Tages Onlus - Firenze
state: FI
Study officials:
affiliation: Tages Onlus
name: Simone Cheli, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: British Columbia University
name: Paul L Hewitt, PhD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
affiliation: The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo
name: Gil Goldzweig, PhD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Cheli S, Cavalletti V, Flett GL, Hewitt PL. Mindful compassion for perfectionism in personality disorders: A pilot acceptability and feasibility study. BPA - Applied Psychology Bulletin (Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata). 2020; 68(287): 55-65. https://doi.org/10.26387/bpa.287.5
citation: Hewitt PL, Mikail SF, Dang SS, Kealy D, Flett GL. Dynamic-relational treatment of perfectionism: An illustrative case study. J Clin Psychol. 2020 Nov;76(11):2028-2040. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23040. Epub 2020 Aug 15.
citation: Hewitt PL, Qiu T, Flynn CA, Flett GL, Wiebe SA, Tasca GA, Mikail SF. Dynamic-relational group treatment for perfectionism: Informant ratings of patient change. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2020 Jun;57(2):197-205. doi: 10.1037/pst0000229. Epub 2019 May 20.
citation: Hewitt PL, Smith MM, Deng X, Chen C, Ko A, Flett GL, Paterson RJ. The perniciousness of perfectionism in group therapy for depression: A test of the perfectionism social disconnection model. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2020 Jun;57(2):206-218. doi: 10.1037/pst0000281. Epub 2020 Jan 30.
citation: Smith MM, Sherry SB, Ray C, Hewitt PL, Flett GL. Is perfectionism a vulnerability factor for depressive symptoms, a complication of depressive symptoms, or both? A meta-analytic test of 67 longitudinal studies. Clin Psychol Rev. 2021 Mar;84:101982. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101982. Epub 2021 Jan 26.
citation: Gilbert P. Compassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy. Front Psychol. 2020 Dec 9;11:586161. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161. eCollection 2020.
citation: Gilbert P. Evolution and depression: issues and implications. Psychol Med. 2006 Mar;36(3):287-97. doi: 10.1017/S0033291705006112. Epub 2005 Oct 20.
citation: Petrocchi N, Dentale F, Gilbert P. Self-reassurance, not self-esteem, serves as a buffer between self-criticism and depressive symptoms. Psychol Psychother. 2019 Sep;92(3):394-406. doi: 10.1111/papt.12186. Epub 2018 Jun 15.
citation: McEwan K, Gilbert P. A pilot feasibility study exploring the practising of compassionate imagery exercises in a nonclinical population. Psychol Psychother. 2016 Jun;89(2):239-43. doi: 10.1111/papt.12078. Epub 2015 Oct 10.
citation: GILBERT, P. & CHODEN, K. (2014). Mindful compassion: How the science of compassion can help you understand your emotions, live in the present, and connect deeply with others. New Harbinger Publications.
citation: HEWITT, P.L., FLETT, G.L. & MIKAIL, S.F. (2017). Perfectionism: A relational approach to conceptualization, assessment, and treatment. New York:The Guilford Press.