Comparative Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۵)

Perfectionism is a complex, multidimensional construct that has been increasingly recognized as a significant transdiagnostic factor in the development and maintenance of various psychological disorders, most notably Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on two distinct dimensions of perfectionism—adaptive (functional) and maladaptive (dysfunctional)—and its subsequent impact on reducing symptoms of GAD. A comprehensive search of international and regional databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Persian-language databases (SID, Magiran), was conducted for studies published between January ۲۰۲۰ and February ۲۰۲۵. Ten high-quality studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for quantitative synthesis. The results indicated that CBT interventions yield a large effect size in reducing maladaptive perfectionism (Hedges' g = -۰.۶۴, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۷۵, -۰.۵۳]) and a moderate-to-large effect size in reducing GAD symptoms (Hedges' g = -۰.۵۸, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۶۹, -۰.۴۷]). Notably, CBT also demonstrated a small but statistically significant positive effect on adaptive perfectionism (Hedges' g = ۰.۲۴, ۹۵% CI [۰.۱۵, ۰.۳۳]), suggesting that therapeutic interventions facilitate a shift from dysfunctional self-criticism to healthy, goal-oriented striving. These findings underscore the clinical utility of targeting perfectionism as a core component of anxiety treatment. The study concludes with recommendations for clinicians to integrate perfectionism-specific modules into standard CBT protocols for GAD.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ، Maladaptive Perfectionism ، Adaptive Perfectionism ، Generalized Anxiety Disorder ، Meta-Analysis ، Transdiagnostic Treatment