A Brief Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Maladaptive Perfectionism in Students: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Researchers focused on developing therapeutic strategies for perfectionism given its well-established link to the onset and maintenance of several mental disorders. Meta-analytical findings provided support for the efficacy of cognitive behavioural (CB) approaches. However, most studies have focused on the efficacy of interventions, without analysing their efficiency. AIMS: To explore the feasibility of a brief (five weekly sessions) CB group intervention focused on reducing perfectionistic concerns in Argentine students. We also aimed to identify participants who benefited from the intervention and to explore their differences with non-respondents. A third aim was to explore the potential merits of the intervention in a different cultural context as this is the first attempt to adapt an English-spoken protocol to the Spanish language. METHOD: A quasi-experimental design with two time points was used. Twenty-four out of 84 participants (mean age = 27.75 years, SD = 8.3) were classified as maladaptive perfectionists. RESULTS: Paired t-tests and reliable change index comparisons revealed that most students (75%) statistically and clinically reduced their levels of perfectionistic concerns as well as their perfectionistic strivings. General distress, operationalized as anxious and depressive symptoms, was also decreased. Students who completed and responded to the intervention were more dysfunctional in academic and psychological measures at baseline than non-completers and non-improvers. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the feasibility, preliminary efficacy and efficiency of this five weekly session intervention when applied to a sample of Argentine university students.

Perfeccionismo y desempeño académico en estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad autónoma de Buenos Aires / Perfectionism and academic performance of university students in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires / Perfeccionismo e desempenho acadêmico em estudantes universitários da cidade autônoma de Buenos Aires

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo analizar la relación entre los perfiles de perfeccionismo y el desempeño académico en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. El desempeño ha sido operacionalizado a través de las variables promedio académico general percibido, calificación del último examen, cantidad de exámenes adeudados y años de carrera cursados. Participaron en la investigación 465 estudiantes pertenecientes a las carreras de Psicología (52,2%) Ingeniería (26,2%) y Medicina (21,6%). La distribución de la población de estudiantes en los distintos perfiles de perfeccionismo (adaptativo- PA, desadaptativo- PD y no perfeccionistas-NP) se presentó según las predicciones derivadas de la teoría y los estudios previos realizados por nuestro equipo de investigación. Respecto a la relación entre los diferentes perfiles y el desempeño académico, se encontró que los estudiantes con un perfil de PA presentaron un promedio percibido significativamente superior, y una cantidad de exámenes adeudados significativamente menor que los estudiantes de los restantes perfiles. No se evidenciaron diferencias significativas para estas variables entre los sujetos con un perfil de PD y los estudiantes NP. Para las restantes variables no se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los distintos perfiles de perfeccionismo. Se discuten las implicancias de estos hallazgos para futuras investigaciones en el área.

The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between perfectionism and academic performance of university graduate students in the City of Buenos Aires. 465 university undergraduates participated in this study: Psychology students (52.2%), Engineering students (26.2%) and Medicine students (21.6%). The resulting scores used to set the different perfectionism profiles (adaptative perfectionists- AP, maladaptive perfectionists- MP, and non perfectionists- NP), are similar to those expected according to current theory and to our previous studies. Regarding the relationship between the different student profiles and their academic performance, it was found that students with an AP profile have a significantly higher average grades than those in the other two groups, and less pending exams. No significant differences were found in average grades between MP and NP. For the remaining variables, no significant differences were found between the different profiles of perfectionism. Implications of these findings for future research in the area are discussed.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre os perfis de perfeccionismo e o desempenho acadêmico em uma mostra de estudantes universitários da cidade de Buenos Aires. O desempenho foi operacionalizado através das variáveis média acadêmica geral percebida, nota da última prova, quantidade de provas pendentes e anos cursados. Participaram na pesquisa 465 estudantes pertencentes aos cursos de Psicologia (52,2%) Engenharia (26,2%) e Medicina (21,6%). A distribuição da população de estudantes nos diferentes perfis de perfeccionismo (adaptativo- PA, desadaptativo- PD e não perfeccionistas- NP) apresentou-se de acordo com as previsões derivadas da teoria e dos estudos prévios feitos pela nossa equipe de pesquisa. Com respeito à relação entre os diferentes perfis e o desempenho acadêmico, encontrou-se que os estudantes com um perfil de PA apresentaram uma médica percebida significativamente superior, e uma quantidade de provas pendentes significativamente menor que os estudantes dos outros perfis. Não se evidenciaram diferenças significativas para estas variáveis entre os sujeitos com um perfil de PD e os estudantes NP. Para as restantes variáveis não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os diferentes perfis de perfeccionismo. Discutem-se as implicações destes descobrimentos para pesquisas futuras na área.

[Social cognition and theory of mind assessment in non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degeneration]. / Evaluación de la cognición social y teoría de la mente en pacientes con enfermedad cerebelosa degenerativa aislada no dementes.

AIM: To investigate whether the cerebellum could participate in social cognition (SC). METHOD: General neuropsychological tests, executive tests (EF), social cognition tests, which assess the ability to infer other peoples mental states, and the Beck Depression Inventory were given to 10 non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degenerative disease, and to 10 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and years of education. ANOVA and correlation coefficients were employed for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients within the cerebellar group were significantly impaired (p

Evaluación de la cognición social y teoría de la mente en pacientes con enfermedad cerebelosa degenerativa aislada no dementes / Social cognition and theory of mind assessment in non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degeneration

OBJETIVO: Investigar la hipótesis según la cual, el cerebelo podría participar en las alteraciones de la cognición social (CS). MÉTODO: Se administraron tests neuropsicológicos generales, de función ejecutiva (FE), de CS que evaluaban la capacidad de inferir el estado mental de otras personas y la escala de Depresión de Beck a 10 pacientes adultos con enfermedad cerebelosa adquirida aislada (GEC) y a 10 controles (GCO) apareados por edad, sexo y educación. Se analizaron los datos mediante ANOVA y correlación. RESULTADOS: El GEC obtuvo puntajes significativamente menores (p?0,05) que el grupo GCO en tareas de FE (Test de Wisconsin) y preguntas de creencia (PCr) de Teoría de la Mente (ToM). El rendimiento en las preguntas de control (PCo) de ToM fue similar en ambos grupos. El menor rendimiento en las PCr correlacionó significativamente con una menor habilidad conceptual, la severidad de la apatía (NPI) y de la ataxia estática. Las PCo correlacionaron con medidas de atención y de recuerdo diferido libre. CONCLUSíON: El cerebelo contribuiría en el monitoreo de la conducta mediante el control de datos multimodales motores, cognitivos y emocionales.

AIM: To investigate whether the cerebellum could participate in social cognition (SC). METHOD: General neuropsychological tests, executive tests (EF), social cognition tests, which assess the ability to infer other peoples mental states, and the Beck Depression Inventory were given to 10 non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degenerative disease, and to 10 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and years of education. ANOVA and correlation coefficients were employed for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients within the cerebellar group were significantly impaired (p?0.05) in EF test [Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT)] and belief questions (BQ) from Theory of Mind (ToM) tests. Performance in control questions (CQ) from ToM tests was similar for both groups. Lower scores in BQ correlated with a lower conceptual ability, the severity of apathy (NPI) and static ataxia. CQ correlated with measures of attention and free recall. CONCLUSION: The cerebellum may contribute in the control of social behavior through the processing of multimodal data, motor, cognitive and emotional.