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Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being pp 101–118Cite as

The Role of Perfectionism in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a highly invalidating condition characterized by severe and prolonged fatigue. Clinicians and researchers have long theorized a connection between perfectionism and chronic fatigue. This chapter provides an overview of research examining the role of perfectionism in CFS. Along with a brief description of the concept of CFS, we present a working model of chronic fatigue suggesting that self-critical or maladaptive perfectionism is one of the key factors that may contribute to chronic stress and subsequent neurobiological alterations in at least a subgroup of CFS patients. We then review studies suggesting that self-critical perfectionism (SCP) is involved in the development and maintenance of chronic fatigue. We also discuss the mechanisms that may explain the link between perfectionism and chronic fatigue. This is followed by a closer look at the developmental origins of perfectionism in CFS. Finally, the last section of this chapter addresses the clinical implications of these findings.

*Stefan Kempke is a postdoctoral researcher of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Stefan Kempke PhD & Patrick Luyten PhD

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Boudewijn Van Houdenhove MD, PhD & Stephan Claes MD, PhD

  3. Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK

    Patrick Luyten PhD

Authors
  1. Stefan Kempke PhD
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  2. Boudewijn Van Houdenhove MD, PhD
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  3. Stephan Claes MD, PhD
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  4. Patrick Luyten PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Kempke PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Fuschia M. Sirois

  2. University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Danielle S. Molnar

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Kempke, S., Van Houdenhove, B., Claes, S., Luyten, P. (2016). The Role of Perfectionism in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In: Sirois, F., Molnar, D. (eds) Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18582-8_5

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