The prediction of obsessive-compulsive tendencies: does perfectionism playa significant role?

Salkovskis (Salkovskis, P. M. (1985), Cognitive-behavioral factors and the persistence of intrusive thoughts in obsessional problems. Behavior Researc h and Therapy, 27, 677-682) has postulated the presence of a dysfunctional responsibility schema in Obsessive Compulsive (OC) patients. Several empiri cal studies have demonstrated a link between responsibility and OC symptoms . Other cognitive variables have also been pointed out, This study explores the relative contribution of Perceived Danger, Responsibility and Perfecti onism in the prediction of OC tendencies in a nonclinical population. 182 p articipants completed the Responsibility Questionnaire (RQ), the R-Scale (R -S), the Perfectionism Questionnaire (PQ) together with the Padua Inventory (PI), Results showed that responsibility, perceived danger and perfectioni sm were all moderately related to OC tendencies. Hierarchical regression an alysis demonstrated that perfectionism still accounted for a significant pa rt of the PI variance once the other variables were partialed out. Beliefs about Responsibility and Perfectionism were equivalent predictors of OC ten dencies. The theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.