The Relationship between Mood Symptom Severity and Perfectionism Subtypes in Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Previous research suggests that there is a link between perfectionism and symptoms of depression. This study aimed to see if different types of perfectionism are linked differently to symptoms of depression in mood disorders and if there is a relationship between perfectionism and symptoms of mania in bipolar disorder. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the databases PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed to find papers which examined the relationship in clinical depression and bipolar disorder. A meta-analysis pooled the correlation effect sizes for mood symptoms severity and the severity of the perfectionism subtype. Results: Twelve papers were included in the review, with five of these being included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found statistically significant positive correlations between greater severity of depression symptoms and more severe perfectionism for the following subtypes: concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, other-oriented perfectionism, parental criticism, self-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism. There was no significant relationship between depression symptoms and perfectionism subtypes of organisation and personal standards. There were not enough studies reporting data for manic symptoms for the meta-analysis or for any firm conclusions to be drawn. Conclusions: The relationship between depression and perfectionism differs depending on the particular type of perfectionism examined. Most studies were cross-sectional and correlational, so causation cannot be inferred, and future longitudinal studies are needed.