The structure of perfectionistic motivation in patients with adjustment disorder and suicidal behavior

Abstract

The motivational component of perfectionism as a special dysfunctional personality style characteristic to suicidal patients is analyzed from the perspective of systemic integrative approach. The results of an empirical study of perfectionistic motivation structure in patients with adjustment disorder and attempted suicides (n = 40) and in potentially healthy subjects (n = 40) are presented. It is shown that the experimental group subjects exhibit a significantly higher perfectionism level and qualitative diversity of structure and content of perfectionistic motivation than the control group subjects. The particularity of the motivational component of perfectionistic personality style in suicidal patients includes a paradoxical combination of high perfectionism and low achievement motivation, a combination of overdependence on demands attributed to other people and expected evaluations with egocentricity of value orientations, as well as specificity and narrowness of value hierarchy with predominance of professional self-realization values over private life values. The results are discussed in the context of style organization of perfectionism and its significance as a suicidal behavior risk factor.