Does an Online Program for Perfectionism Reduce Psychological Distress in Adolescents?

INTERVENTION: The intervention is called 'Overcoming Perfectionism' and is based on the second edition of the book 'Overcoming perfectionism: a self‐help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques' (Shafran, Egan, & Wade, 2018). The intervention is delivered through the website www.overcomingperfectionism.com.au, and participants randomised into the intervention group will log on once a week for 8‐weeks to complete a total of 8‐modules of cognitive‐behavioural therapy for perfectionism (one module a week). Each module will take participants 30‐60 minutes to complete and includes reading text, short quizzes, listening to audio examples, and completing activities in the form of tables. The intervention will be guided in that participants will receive brief and personalised weekly feedback on completed homework tasks. This feedback will take approximately 5‐minutes for each participant. For the homework tasks we will ask participants to complete one blank worksheet per module that is related to the content for that week. Each homework sheet is one page and includes a blank table for participants to fill in using their own examples. Each homework sheet will take approximately 15‐30 minutes to complete (included in the module completion time). The topics for the homework tasks are: ‐ Module 1: Identifying rewards of perfectionism ‐ Module 2: Drawing personalised perfectionism cycle ‐ Module 3: Identifying perfectionistic thoughts, feelings, and behaviours ‐ Module 4: Finding out facts about perfectionism by conducting a survey ‐ Module 5: Designing and conducting a behavioural experiment ‐ Module 6: Challenging unhelpful thinking ‐ Module 7: Identifying perfectionistic thoughts and procrastination behaviours ‐ Module 8: Identifying self‐critical voice In order to monitor adherence to the intervention participants will be asked to complete the Feedback Questionnaire which is a 4‐item measure of compliance in completing the modules. CONDITION: Depression;Anxiety;Eating Disorders;Perfectionism;Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury; ; Depression ; Anxiety ; Eating Disorders ; Perfectionism ; Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression Mental Health ‐ Eating disorders Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour PRIMARY OUTCOME: Perfectionism as assessed by the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire.[Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention (primary timepoint), 3‐month follow‐up, and 6‐month follow‐up.] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Aged 13‐ to 18‐years old currently residing in Australia. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Anxiety symptoms as assessed by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety sub scale). [Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 3‐months follow‐up, and 6‐months follow‐up. ] Depression symptoms as assessed by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression sub scale). [Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 3‐months follow‐up, and 6‐months follow‐up. ] Eating disorder symptoms as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. [Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 3‐months follow‐up, and 6‐months follow‐up. ] Non‐suicidal self‐injury as assessed by the Inventory of Statements about Self‐Injury. [Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 3‐months follow‐up, and 6‐months follow‐up. ] Well‐being as assessed by the General Health Questionnaire‐12. [Pre‐intervention, post‐intervention, 3‐months follow‐up, and 6‐months follow‐up. ]