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Reconsidering perfect: a qualitative study of the experiences of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2020

Alexander Rozental Open the ORCID record for Alexander Rozental [Opens in a new window] ,
Radha Kothari ,
Tracey Wade ,
Sarah Egan ,
Gerhard Andersson ,
Per Carlbring  and
Roz Shafran
Alexander Rozental*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
Radha Kothari
Affiliation:
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
Tracey Wade
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
Sarah Egan
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Gerhard Andersson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Per Carlbring
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Roz Shafran
Affiliation:
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: alexander.rozental@ki.se
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Abstract

Background:

Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) is a promising format for treating different psychiatric disorders. In addition, several clinical trials have found positive results when using it to target transdiagnostic processes, such as perfectionism. However, few qualitative investigations have been conducted on the experiences of clients undergoing such treatments.

Method:

In the current study, clients completing 12-week guided ICBT for perfectionism responded to open-ended questions at post-treatment. In total, 30 out of 62 (48.4%) described their impressions of its content and the support provided by their guide.

Results:

The results were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Five themes were found in the responses: Learning how to do things differently, Noticing the positives, Feeling safe to be honest, A comfortable treatment format and Barriers to treatment.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that many clients were able to achieve a change in perspective in relation to their perfectionism and started facing their fears. They were also able to report the benefits of doing things differently as part of treatment, such as an improvement in their interpersonal relationships. Most clients were also positive about the treatment format, enjoying its flexibility and the encouragement offered by their therapist. However, obstacles such as conflicting commitments, personal difficulties, time-consuming and comprehensive treatment modules, and a desire for more support were brought up by some, suggesting that there are aspects that could be considered in the future.

Keywords

experiencesinternet-based cognitive behaviour therapyperfectionismthematic analysisqualitative
Type
Main
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , July 2020 , pp. 432 - 441
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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