A sisyphean task : experiences of perfectionism in patients with eating disorders

Background: Despite the theoretical links between eating disorders and perfectionism, the definition of perfectionismin practice is complicated. The present study explored descriptions and experiences of perfectionism described by atransdiagnostic sample of patients. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 15 patients. The interviews were analyzed byThematic Analysis. A comparison between the patients’ scorings on the Eating Disorder Inventory-Perfectionism scalewas also performed. Results: Seven themes were found: The origins of perfectionism, Top performance, Order and self-control, A perfectbody, Looking good in the eyes of others, A double-edged coping strategy, and A Sisyphean task. The women inthis study did not emphasize weight and body as the main perfectionistic strivings. Core descriptions were instead order,self-control and top performances. All of the participants described the awareness of reaching perfectionismas impossible. Scorings of self-oriented perfectionism was significantly higher compared to socially prescribedperfectionism. No differences in the narratives related to perfectionism scores or eating disorder diagnoseswere found. Conclusions: The results showed that psychometric measures do not always capture the patients’ definitionsof perfectionism, but regarding that perfectionism serves as a means to regulate affects and may lead into anexacerbation of the eating disorder, and the development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, it is importantto investigate the personal definitions of perfectionism