PerfectionismNCT05351710
A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism
A study testing Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism and Stress Management in people with Perfectionism, run by Florida State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is examining the efficacy of a computerized, exposure-based, intervention for perfectionism. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Perfectionism
- What is being tested?
- Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism and Stress Management
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 85 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 Aug 2022to 13 Apr 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Score of at least 29 on the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale- Concern over Mistakes subscale
Who cannot join
- Currently participating in psychotherapy
- Any changes to psychotropic medications in the past four weeks
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Florida State University, Department of Psychology
Tallahassee, Florida, 32306
About this study
This study is examining the efficacy of a computerized, exposure-based, intervention for perfectionism.
Read the detailed description
The aim of this study is to further test the efficacy of a short-term, computerized exposure-based treatment for perfectionism (ETP) by comparing it to a stress management condition. ETP consists of three tasks in which participants will repeatedly make mistakes during eight sessions over a two-week period (one session every 2 days).
- Conditions
- Perfectionism
- Being tested
- Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism, Stress Management
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exposure-Based Treatment for PerfectionismBehavioural
Three tasks focused on exposures are completed. Each treatment session is approximately twenty minutes.
Stress ManagementBehavioural
Videos focused on education about healthy habits and relaxation. Each session is approximately twenty minutes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism | Experimental | This arm consists of a 2-week computerized, exposure-based intervention. Treatment sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 treatment sessions total). Receives: Behavioral: Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism |
| Stress Management Condition | Active comparator | This arm consists of a 2-week, computerized, stress-management condition in which participants watch videos of health habits (e.g., nutrition, exercise, sleep) and relaxation videos. These sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 sessions total). Receives: Behavioral: Stress Management |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS)- Concern Over Mistakes Subscale
Self-report questionnaire examining levels of perfectionism. The concern over mistakes sub-scale includes 9 items with scores ranging from 9 to 45 (higher scores signify higher levels of perfectionism).
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Self-report measure used to assess depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating a higher level of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7
Self-report measure used to assess generalized anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating higher levels of generalized anxiety.
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Self-report scale that measures social anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 68 with higher scores indicating higher levels of social anxiety symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
ED-15
Self-report scale that measures eating disorder symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher mean scores indicating higher levels of eating disorder symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Irrational Procrastination Scale
Self-report scale that measures levels of procrastination. Scores range from 9 to 45 with higher scores indicating higher levels of procrastination.
Measured: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Apr 2022
- Study start30 Aug 2022
- Primary completion1 Dec 2022
- Study completion13 Apr 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PerfectionismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Florida State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 85 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jesse Cougle, Florida State University
- Investigators
- Jesse R Cougle, PhD, Principal investigator, Florida State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05351710
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00003084
- Status last verified
- Jul 2024
- First submitted
- 24 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2024
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Clark SA, Patel TA, Cougle JR. Is repeated mistake-making an effective treatment strategy for perfectionism? Findings from a randomized controlled trial. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2024 Sep;84:101964. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2024.101964. Epub 2024 May 1.
PubMed 38704973
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05351710
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00003084
- Conditions
- Perfectionism
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 85 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Florida State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Apr 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 15 Jul 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is examining the efficacy of a computerized, exposure-based, intervention for perfectionism.
Detailed description
The aim of this study is to further test the efficacy of a short-term, computerized exposure-based treatment for perfectionism (ETP) by comparing it to a stress management condition. ETP consists of three tasks in which participants will repeatedly make mistakes during eight sessions over a two-week period (one session every 2 days).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism | Experimental | Behavioral: Exposure-Based Treatment for PerfectionismThis arm consists of a 2-week computerized, exposure-based intervention. Treatment sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 treatment sessions total). |
| Stress Management Condition | Active comparator | Behavioral: Stress ManagementThis arm consists of a 2-week, computerized, stress-management condition in which participants watch videos of health habits (e.g., nutrition, exercise, sleep) and relaxation videos. These sessions are completed every 2 days at home (8 sessions total). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Score of at least 29 on the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale- Concern over Mistakes subscale
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Currently participating in psychotherapy
- Any changes to psychotropic medications in the past four weeks
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure-Based Treatment for PerfectionismThree tasks focused on exposures are completed. Each treatment session is approximately twenty minutes. | Behavioural | Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism |
| Stress ManagementVideos focused on education about healthy habits and relaxation. Each session is approximately twenty minutes. | Behavioural | Stress Management Condition |
Primary outcome
Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS)- Concern Over Mistakes Subscale
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Self-report questionnaire examining levels of perfectionism. The concern over mistakes sub-scale includes 9 items with scores ranging from 9 to 45 (higher scores signify higher levels of perfectionism).
5 secondary outcomes
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
ED-15
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Irrational Procrastination Scale
Time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2024.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38704973Clark SA, Patel TA, Cougle JR. Is repeated mistake-making an effective treatment strategy for perfectionism? Findings from a randomized controlled trial. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2024 Sep;84:101964. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2024.101964. Epub 2024 May 1.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jesse R Cougle, PhD principal investigator
Florida State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exposure-Based Treatment for Perfectionism and Stress Management in people with Perfectionism, run by Florida State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 Jul 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS)- Concern Over Mistakes Subscale (time frame: Baseline, post treatment (2 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05351710, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2024; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.