Perfectionism in chronic and state symptoms of depression.

Abstract

The present study tested whether perfectionism dimensions uniquely predict chronic unipolar and chronic bipolar symptoms. A sample of 121 patients and former patients completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the General Behavior Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The results confirmed that the perfectionism dimensions are related to chronicity of depression symptoms. Whereas self-oriented perfectionism was uniquely associated only with chronic unipolar symptoms, both socially prescribed and other-oriented perfectionism were uniquely associated with chronic bipolar symptoms. Importantly, these relationships remained significant after controlling for the effects of concurrent state depression. Finally, only socially prescribed perfectionism was uniquely associated with state depression. The results provide support for the position that perfectionism dimensions are important in both chronic and state depression symptoms, but the perfectionism dimensions may differ in terms of their degree of association with various facets of depressive phenomena. ResumeCette etude cherche a determiner si les divers types de perfectionnisme ne permettent de pr&iire que les symptomes unipolaires et bipolaires chroniques. Cent vingt et un (121) patients et anciens patients ont rempli 1'echelle multidimensionnelle du perfectionnisme, 1'inventaire du comportement general et 1'inventaire de depression de Beck. Les resultats ont confirme qu'il existe des liens entre les types de perfectionnisme et la chronicite des symptomes de depression. Alors que le perfectionnisme oriente vers soi etait associe aux symptomes unipolaires chroniques, le perfectionnisme oriente vers les autres et le perfectionnisme prescrit par la societe etaient tous deux associes aux symptomes bipolaires chroniques. II importe de souligner que ces liens sont demeures importants meme apres qu'il y a eu controle des effets d'une depression ponctuelle concomitante. Enfin, seul le perfectionnisme prescrit par la societe etait associe a la depression ponctuelle. Les resultats justifient la position que les types de perfectionnisme jouent un role important dans 1'expression des symptomes de depression chronique et ponctuelle, mais que leur degre d'association avec les divers aspects de la depression peut varier.Depression in Canada, as elsewhere, is a common form of psychological disturbance. It has been estimated that 5% of men and 10% of women will become severely depressed at least once during their lives (Woodruff, Goodwin, & Guze, 1974). In samples of Canadian women between 18 and 65 years, approximately 8% had been clinically depressed within the previous year (Costello, 1982) and in 1994, over 1.1 million Canadians experienced a major depression episode (Diverty & Beaudet, 1997). Also, an examination of general-practice patients in Canada found that one-third of all patients were experiencing at least mild levels of depression (Barnes & Prosen, 1984; also see Costello & Devins, 1989). Depression tends to exact its toll in many ways with economic...

Moderator Role of Perfectionism between Negative Life Events and Depressive Symptoms among Turkish Youth

“…Despite the finding that socially prescribed perfectionism is generally related to the interpersonal domain (Blatt, 1995), the interaction of this dimension with social life events was not found to be significantly associated with depressive symptoms. This finding was consistent with that of Hewitt et al (1998), who found the same main effect for socially prescribed perfectionism on depressive symptoms and failed to find an interaction of this dimension of perfectionism with negative life events. Hewitt and his colleagues (1998) reported that the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and life stressors is less clear.…”

Depressive personality disorder, dysthymia, and their relationship to perfectionism

“…For instance, Hewitt and Flett [1993] and Hewitt et al [1996] found that self-oriented perfectionism (having high, self-imposed unrealistic standards, and intensive self-scrutiny) interacted with achievement stress to predict depression in depressed and nondepressed psychiatric patients and nonpatients. Hewitt et al [1998] also found that self-oriented perfectionism was uniquely associated with chronic unipolar depressive symptoms, even after controlling for current state depression, whereas socially oriented perfectionism was uniquely associated with current depressive symptoms.…”

Longitudinal Links Between Perfectionism and Depression in Children

“…In psychiatric patients diagnosed with mood disorders, both SOP and SPP predicted levels of depression (Hewitt & Flett, 1991a). Similarly, Hewitt, Flett, Ediger, Norton, and Flynn (1998) found that, in individuals diagnosed with unipolar depression, SOP predicted chronic depression while SPP predicted state depression, suggesting that perfectionism not only contributes to current depression but can also increase the likelihood of experiencing recurrent depression (Hewitt et al, 1998).…”