Comparison of Intolerance of Ambiguity and Perfectionism among Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Ordinary People

This study aimed to compare the intolerance of ambiguity and perfectionism in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and ordinary people.

This study was a descriptive retrospective. The sample was consisted of 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (16 female and 14 male) and 30 ordinary people (16 female and 14‌male) so that they were selected by using available method. Baher and Daga's intolerance of ambiguity scale (2002) and Tehran's multidimensional perfectionism questionnaires (2003-2005) were used to measure the variables and to analysis the data multivariate analysis of variance was used.

Data analysis showed that patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder have more perfectionism and intolerance of ambiguity than ordinary people.

Based on the findings, we can say that intolerance of ambiguity and perfectionism are two cognitive structures that provide the context for the emergence and intensification of symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and hence in the treatment intervention, focus on the adjustment of the two structures has special importance.