Fredrik Saboonchi

PERFECTIONISM, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND ANXIETY

The relation between perfectionism, anxiety, and self-consciousness was studied in a normal sample. The perfectionism dimensions of Concern over Mistakes, Doubts about Action, and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism showed a pattern of correlations not only with measures of social anxiety, but also with measures of agoraphobic fears, and fears of bodily injury, death and illness. Public self-consciousness also correlated with various measures of anxiety, but these correlations disappeared when the relevant dimensions of perfectionism were controlled for. It is concluded that perfectionism is a more relevant construct in the study of anxiety than is public self-consciousness. The results are discussed in terms of possible causal relationships between perfectionism and anxiety.

Perfectionism and self-consciousness in social phobia and panic disorder with agoraphobia

Social phobics were compared to patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia and normal controls on perfectionism and self-consciousness. On concern over mistakes and doubts about action, social phobics scored higher than patients with panic disorder. Social phobics also demonstrated a higher level of public self-consciousness than patients with panic disorder and when this difference was controlled for the significant differences on perfectionism disappeared. Within each patient group, however, perfectionism was more robustly related to social anxiety than was public self-consciousness, which replicates the findings of Saboonchi and Lundh [Saboonchi, F. & Lundh, L. G. (1997). Perfectionism, self-consciousness and anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 22, 921-928.] from a non-clinical sample. The results are discussed in terms of public self-consciousness being a differentiating characteristic of the more severe kind of social anxiety which is typical of social phobia.

Perfectionism, anger, somatic health, and positive affect

The associations between perfectionism, anger, somatic health, and positive affect were examined in 184 Swedish adults from a randomly selected population sample. Somewhat unexpectedly, trait anger was found to be associated with self-oriented perfectionism rather than with socially prescribed perfectionism. Both socially prescribed perfectionism and self-oriented perfectionism showed weak positive correlations with self-reported somatic complaints, particularly symptoms of tension and fatigue, and more clearly in women than in men, whereas other-oriented perfectionism appeared as a predictor of whether the participants were undergoing medical treatment or not. Finally, the results did not support the notion of self-oriented perfectionism representing a positive, adaptive dimension of perfectionism; on the contrary, this dimension was found to be negatively associated with positive affect.

Perfectionism and Insomnia

The relationship between perfectionism and insomnia was studied by means of a shortened version of Frost et als (1990) Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-20). In the first study, an age- an ...

Coping, Sense of Coherence and the Dimensions of Affect in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Background: Living with chronic heart failure has an impact on several important dimensions of an individuals life. A patients use of coping strategies may influence his or her health condition and emotional well-being. Aim: To investigate factors that may relate to the coping strategies used by individuals with chronic heart failure and how the coping strategies are associated with positive and negative affect. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used. The participants provided demographic data and filled out three questionnaires: Sense of Coherence scale, Brief COPE and Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule. Results: No differences in relation to coping strategies were found with regard to New York Heart Association class. Substance use was associated with gender and age. Sense of coherence was negatively associated with denial, behavioural disengagement, venting and self-blame, and positively associated with acceptance. It was found that avoidant coping positively and sense of coherence negatively, predicted negative affect. Problem focused coping positively predicted positive affect. Socially supported coping predicted both negative and positive affect. Conclusion: The present study found that the employment of different coping strategies and sense of coherence had an impact on affect and therefore also the emotional well-being among patients with chronic heart failure.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Swedish version of Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS)

Context  Interprofessional learning activities in health care are being gradually introduced on an international basis and therefore cross‐cultural and internationally collaborative research into the outcomes of these activities is needed. Hence, it is necessary not only to translate research instruments into the language of the culture in which they are to be used, but also to adapt them culturally if they are to fulfil the testing purposes for which they are intended. It is also necessary to test a translated instrument in order to ensure that it retains its intended psychometric properties.

The role of personal standards in clinically significant perfectionism. A person-oriented approach to the study of patterns of perfectionism

Clinically significant perfectionism is defined as patterns of perfectionism which are over-represented in clinical samples and under-represented in non-clinical samples. The present study contrasted two hypotheses about what characterizes clinically significant perfectionism: the two-factor theory and perfectionism/acceptance theory. First, a person-oriented approach by means of cluster analysis was used to identify typical patterns of perfectionism. These clusters were then cross-tabulated with two clinical samples (patients with social phobia and patients with panic disorder) and a non-clinical sample. The results showed that patterns of clinically significant perfectionism combined high Concern over Mistakes (CM) and Doubts about Action (DA) with high Personal Standards (PS) (and to a lesser extent also high Organization)––which is consistent with perfectionism/acceptance theory, but at odds with the two-factor theory. The results illustrate the value of a person-oriented methodological approach as a complement to the traditional variable-oriented approach.

A preliminary validation of the Swedish version of the critical‐care pain observation tool in adults

Background: Assessing pain in critically ill patients can be complicated, especially for those unable to communicate. A recently developed pain assessment tool, the Critical‐Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), has been shown to be a reliable tool for pain assessment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The aim of the study was to validate the Swedish version of the CPOT.

Evaluation of an educational programme for family members of patients living with heart failure : a randomised controlled trial

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of a group-based multi-professional educational programme for family members of patients with chronic heart failure with regard to quality of life, depression and anxiety. The secondary aim was to investigate the impact of social support and sense of coherence on changes in quality of life, anxiety and depression during the period of the study. BACKGROUND When a person is diagnosed with heart failure, the daily life of the family members is also affected. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. METHODS A total of 128 family members were randomly assigned to participate in a multi-professional educational programme or a control group. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. RESULTS There were no significant differences in anxiety, depression or quality of life between the intervention group and control group. Adequacy of social network was the only independent variable that explained levels of anxiety and depression after 12 months beyond baseline levels of anxiety (p < 0·001, R(2) = 0·35) and depression (p = 0·021, R(2) = 0·37). Younger family members were found to have a higher quality of life (p < 0·01). CONCLUSION Improved disease-related knowledge may need to be combined with other target variables to induce desired effects on depression, anxiety and quality of life of family members. Antecedents of depression and anxiety, such as sense of control, may need to be specifically targeted. Our results also suggest that intervention aimed at enhancing social support may be beneficial for family members. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Anxiety and depression did not decrease nor did quality of life improve after the intervention. An educational programme for family members with a component specifically targeting anxiety, depression and quality of life warrants testing. Furthermore, it is important that health care providers understand the influence of social support on anxiety, depression and quality of life when interacting with family members.

Physical activity following a breast cancer diagnosis: Implications for self-rated health and cancer-related symptoms

PURPOSE Studies have consistently shown an association between physical activity and increased health and well-being after a cancer diagnosis. Nevertheless, large proportions of breast cancer survivors do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. The aim of this study was to describe physical activity levels during the first two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer, and to explore the predictive ability of physical inactivity on longer-term self-rated health, physical symptoms, and psychological distress. METHOD Study participants were women recently having had a first breast cancer surgery at one of the three main hospitals in Stockholm between 2007 and 2009. A total of 726 women were included and responded to six questionnaire assessments during the 24 months following diagnosis. RESULTS Less than one third of the participants were sufficiently physically active at baseline. Physical activity decreased after surgery, increased at 8 month follow-up, and subsequently decreased slightly during the subsequent follow-up period. Physical inactivity was related to reduced health, increased symptoms such as pain, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSION This study provides additional support for the beneficial consequences of being physically active after a breast cancer diagnosis and highlights a potential target for intervention. This study provides additional support showing that being physically active even at a very low level seems to result in health benefits. Physical activity should be encouraged among patients treated for breast cancer.