Many people with OCD would consider themselves highly perfectionist. Indeed, the form of OCD characterised by ‘Not Just Right Experiences’ can seem very similar to perfectionism. The need for symmetry and exactness can characterise both OCD and perfectionism. However, there are also important differences. OCD is characterised by unwanted intrusive thoughts, images and urges whereas this is not a fundamental part of clinical perfectionism. Similarly, appraisals made of the intrusive thoughts, images and urges are central to understanding and treating OCD but are less important when addressing clinical perfectionism. This presentation will define and describe clinical perfectionism. It will discuss similarities and differences between clinical perfectionism and OCD, and where the construct of ‘Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder’ fits in. The treatment of perfectionism and OCD will be discussed so that participants can see key areas of overlap but also areas that are distinctive. Gil Barton will provide a lived experience perspective as part of this presentation.

Professor Roz Shafran
I am Chair in Translational Psychology at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. I am an honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist, a member of the Health Professions Council and an accredited therapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. I founded the Charlie Waller Institute of Evidenced Based Psychological Treatment in 2007 at the University of Reading and was its director until 2012. I am a Trustee of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, Patron of 'No Panic' and recipient of prizes such as the Positive Practice 'Making a Difference' Award, British Psychological Society Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in Practice and Marsh Award for Mental Health for research that has made a difference to clinical practice. I am a former associate editor of 'Behaviour Research and Therapy' and currently serve on the NIHR HTA Mental Health panel and am a NICE Expert Advisor.

Gil Barton
Gil works as an honorary research assistant for the Psychological Medicine Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Gil is currently working on the MICE trial. His main roles involve following up on patients at 6 and 12 months as well as documenting their epilepsy history. He is looking to pursue a career in neurology and psychology but has a strong interest in OCD due to having a close family member with diagnosed acute OCD.