Perfectionism and depression symptom severity in major depressive disorder

In recent years it has been recognized that perfectionism is a multidimensi onal construct and-two Multidimensional Perfectionism Scales have been deve loped and investigated in-relative isolation [Frost, R.O.; Marten, P., Laha rt,.C, & Rosenblate; R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research,. 14, 449-468; Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991). Per fectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment a nd association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psyc hology, 60, 456-470]. The present study sought to evaluate the association between various dimensions of perfectionism, higher-order personality dimen sions, and self and observer rated depressive symptoms in a group of 145 pa tients with major depressive disorder. Only three of ten perfectionism dime nsions (socially prescribed perfectionism,' concern over mistakes and self- criticism) displayed medium to large correlations with: depressive symptoms , especially self-report symptoms reflecting depressive cognitive distortio ns. The results are:discussed in relation; to the specificity of perfection ism dimensions to depression, adaptive versus maladaptive aspects of perfec tionism, and in the context of previous research, much of which has relied on college student samples: (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.