The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women

Emotional dysregulation, alexithymia and neuroticism: a systematic review on the genetic basis of a subset of psychological traits

Neuroticism, alexithymia and emotion dysregulation are key traits and known risk factors for several psychiatric conditions. In this systematic review, the aim is to evaluate the genetic contribution to these psychological phenotypes. A systematic review of articles found in PubMed was conducted. Search terms included 'genetic', 'GWAS', 'neuroticism', 'alexithymia' and 'emotion dysregulation'. Risk of bias was assessed utilizing the STREGA checklist. Two hundred two papers were selected from existing literature based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these, 27 were genome-wide studies and 175 were genetic association studies. Single gene association studies focused on selected groups of genes, mostly involved in neurotransmission, with conflicting results. GWAS studies on neuroticism, on the other hand, found several relevant and replicated intergenic and intronic loci affecting the expression and regulation of crucial and well-known genes (such as DRD2 and CRHR1). Mutations in genes coding for trascriptional factors were also found to be associated with neuroticism (DCC, XKR6, TCF4, RBFOX1), as well as a noncoding regulatory RNA (LINC00461). On the other hand, little GWAS data are available on alexythima and emotional dysregulation.

Respiration rate during a stress task moderates neuroticism and perceived stress in older adults

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that respiration rate is related to psychological factors such as neuroticism and perceived stress in addition to physiological factors. However, it is unclear how respiration rate during a laboratory stress task relates to the relationship between neuroticism and perceived stress.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

This cross-sectional secondary analysis examined respiration rate during a stress task in moderating the relationship between neuroticism and perceived stress in a sample of generally healthy older adults (n = 64). Respiration data were collected during an auditory oddball paradigm and the Portland Arithmetic Stress Task (PAST), a laboratory-based cognitive stressor.

RESULTS

The results indicated that respiration rate during the PAST significantly moderated the relationship between neuroticism and perceived stress (p = .031), such that participants who exhibited a very low (-1.78 SD) respiration rate showed a non-significant relationship between neuroticism and perceived stress, whereas participants with average (mean; p < .001) and elevated respiration rates (+1 SD; p < .001) exhibited a significant positive relationship between neuroticism and perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings add to a body of literature suggesting that stress reactivity is an important link between personality factors and negative outcomes. However, this is the first study to our knowledge to examine the role of physiological stress reactivity in buffering this relationship. The results suggest that individuals higher in neuroticism may attenuate the relationship between stress vulnerability and perceived stress through decreased physiological stress reactivity, particularly by exhibiting slow breathing during a stressor.

The relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms and marital adjustment

This study was aimed at determining the relationship between personality traits, menopausal symptoms and marital adjustment in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 599 postmenopausal women who presented to the family health centers between September 2018 and February 2019. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Marital Adjustment Test, Cervantes Personality Scale and Menopause Rating Scale. The mean marital adjustment score of the postmenopausal women was 44.03 ± 10.75. The correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between marital adjustment, and personality traits and menopausal symptoms. Education level, economic status, duration of menopause, neurotic and inconsistent personality traits, somatic, psychological and urogenital symptoms were determined to be statistically significant predictive factors of marital adjustment in postmenopausal women.

Exploring the Relationship between Depression on Menopausal Symptoms and Personality Trails

The aim of the present study was to explore the potential relationships between menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, hot flash, and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was designed with 150 healthy postmenopausal women (45-60 years of age) who had referred to the menopausal clinic in Babol. The participants completed the following instruments throughout the study: the Beck Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms, the Modified Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index for measuring menopausal symptoms, and the NEO-FFI for identifying the personality traits. After controlling all the covariates, high depressive symptoms were found to be associated with moderate/sever menopausal symptoms, poor sleep quality, and the average and high level of neuroticism. The results also demonstrated that the risk of depressive symptoms was lower in menopausal women with high level extroversion, high level agreeableness, and the average and high level of conscientiousness. The findings of the present study indicated that personality traits, menopausal symptoms, and poor sleep quality in particular can partially account for depression in Iranian menopausal women. It is highly imperative that effective health education or implement appropriate strategies to improve the quality of life for these women.

Examination of associations between personality traits, and polymorphisms of MAO-A and 5-HTT with the severity of menopausal symptoms and depression levels

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between different personality traits with monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT), and to examine their effects on the severity of menopause symptoms as well as the levels of depression in menopausal women. The study was designed as an analytical cross-sectional study, performed on 132 healthy post-menopausal women in Iran. Personality was assessed using the Revised Edition of the NEO Personality Index (Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness-Five Factor Inventory). The symptoms score sheet, used for measuring menopausal symptoms, was used to classify the participants according to their menopausal symptoms. Furthermore, Beck Depression Inventory short version was also used to assess depressive symptoms. Examination of blood samples taken from all participants was to identify DNA polymorphisms of 5-HTT using PCR. The results of the present study showed that a high level of neuroticism (P<0.0001), low levels of extroversion (P<0.002), an openness to experience (P=0.039) and conscientiousness (P=0.001) were all positively associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms. In addition, a high level of neuroticism (P<0.0001), low levels of extroversion (P<0.0001), and a low level of agreeableness (P<0.024) and conscientiousness (P<0.0001) were all positively associated with depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant association between MAO-A and 5-HTT polymorphisms with menopause and depression scores. Based on these results, there appears to be a significant association between personality traits with both depression and menopausal symptoms. Identification of homogeneous groups of women who are predisposed to depression and severe menopausal symptoms may allow for the implementation of early prevention programs.

The role of perceived stress and cognitive function on the relationship between neuroticism and depression among the elderly: a structural equation model approach

BACKGROUND

Depression comprises common psychological problems, and has been strongly related to neuroticism and perceived stress. While neuroticism has been shown to have a direct effect on depression, it also has an indirect effect via perceived stress. Among the elderly, cognitive function produces influences that should not be overlooked when investigating depression. This study aimed to determine the role of mediating effects of perceived stress as well as cognitive function on neuroticism and depression among elderly patients.

METHODS

This research constituted a secondary analysis, with data collected during the pre-operative period of 429 elderly individuals undergoing elective, noncardiac surgery. The evaluation included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Neuroticism Inventory, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the hypothesized model.

RESULTS

Neuroticism exhibited a significant indirect effect on perceived stress via depression and cognition (β = 0.162, 95% CI 0.026, 0.322, p = .002). Neuroticism initially had a direct effect on depression (β = 0.766, 95% CI 0.675, 0.843 p = 0.003); thereafter, it was reduced after covariates were added (β = 0.557, 95% CI 0.432, 0.668 p = 0.002). Based on this model, the total variance explained by this model was 67%, and the model showed an acceptable fit with the data.

CONCLUSIONS

Both perceived stress and cognitive function partially mediated the effect of neuroticism on depression, with perceived stress exhibiting a greater effect.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol has been registered at Clinicaltrials.gov under registered number: NCT02131181.

Association of menopausal symptoms with sociodemographic factors and personality traits

Aim of the study

To investigate the association of personality traits with the severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in a predominantly Greek population.

Material and methods

A questionnaire-based study of women from the Menopause Clinic of a University Hospital in Athens, Greece. Sociodemographic parameters were documented through a structured interview. All women completed the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for the assessment of severity of menopausal symptoms, the Hot Flush Beliefs Scale (HFBS) for the assessment of how women were coping with their symptoms and the Big Five Inventory questionnaires for the assessment of personality traits. Associations between baseline parameters and menopausal symptoms were assessed with univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Results

One hundred women were included. Employed women had lower MRS sub-scores (psychological p< 0.001, somatic p< 0.047, urogenital p< 0.008). Married women scored higher in the psychological and somatic domains. Women of university educational level coped significantly better with hot flushes (β coefficient [SE]: 0.72 [0.25], p< 0.01) and night sweats (0.57 [0.19], p< 0.01) than women of primary education, although the significance of these findings was not replicated when taking into account confounders. Regarding personality traits, women with low openness (-0.33 [0.11], p< 0.01) and empathy (-0.83 [0.37], p = 0.03) and high agreeableness (1.13 [0.21], p< 0.001) had more severe menopausal symptoms. In contrast, women with high agreeableness could better cope with their menopausal symptoms (-0.75 [0.36], p = 0.04). These associations were independent of sociodemographic factors.

Conclusions

Personality traits, especially agreeableness, openness and empathy are associated with menopausal symptoms and functionality in postmenopausal women. These associations might serve as indicators of women at risk of experiencing more severe VMS.

Associations Among Monoamine Neurotransmitter Pathways, Personality Traits, and Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex psychiatric disease requiring multidisciplinary approaches to identify specific risk factors and establish more efficacious treatment strategies. Although the etiology and pathophysiology of MDD are not clear until these days, it is acknowledged that they are almost certainly multifactorial and comprehensive. Monoamine neurotransmitter system dysfunction and specific personality traits are independent risk factors for depression and suicide. These factors also demonstrate complex interactions that influence MDD pathogenesis and symptom expression. In this review, we assess these relationships with the aim of providing a reference for the development of precision medicine.

The influence of genetic factors on personality and coping with stress among healthy late reproductive age women

Background

Psychological stress is a factor which predisposes people to many somatic and mental disorders. Women are at a significantly higher risk of stress than men, and their reactions to stress are stronger. Personality traits are thought to play a special role in the psychology of stress and may be crucial for the choice of a stress-coping strategy. Considering that stress is so common in everyday life, an attempt to understand how stress-coping styles are related to personality and genetic factors acquires special significance.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze stress-coping styles and personality traits in healthy late reproductive age women with regard to genetic factors.

Patients and methods

The study involved 345 healthy late reproductive age women from northwest Poland, whose mean age was 42.3±4.5 years. The study was conducted using The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, The Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five--Factor Inventory, and genetic testing.

Results

There were neither statistically significant relationships between personality traits and the genotype distribution of the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region, nor between stress-coping styles and the genotype distribution of the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region.

Conclusion

Based on the results, all personality traits statistically significantly correlated with the choice of task-oriented coping and emotion-oriented coping. Some of personality traits are genetically determined. The choice of a stress-coping style was significantly related to personality traits. A direct influence of genetic factors on the choice of a stress-coping style was not confirmed in our study.

The correlation between menopausal complaints and personality traits

PURPOSE

Aim is to investigate the correlation between personality traits of menopausal women and their menopausal complaints.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional and correlation study was conducted with 400 menopausal Turkish women.

FINDINGS

A positive correlation was determined between extroversion/introversion scores of Cervantes Personality Scale (CPS) and somatic and urogenital subscale scores of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and between emotional instability/neuroticism scores of CPS and all subscale scores of MRS.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Considering the effect of personality traits on menopausal symptoms, affected groups can be identified in advance and menopausal complaints can be reduced by increasing support.

Analysis of Sociodemographic, Psychological, and Genetic Factors Contributing to Depressive symptoms in Pre-, Peri- and Postmenopausal Women

Depressive symptoms that are faced by women in the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal periods are determined by a wide array of sociodemographic, psychological, and biological variables. The aim of our study was to identify factors that contribute to depressive problems at this stage of life. The study included 815 healthy Polish women aged 45–60 years. The survey part was conducted using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Neuroticism–Extroversion–Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and a self-developed questionnaire. Genetic analysis was also performed. Depressive symptoms were observed in 25.5% of participants. 70% of the women were postmenopausal. No statistically significant differences in the severity of depressive symptoms were demonstrated with regard to genetic variables (p > 0.05). Reproductive capacity (p < 0.001), employment (p < 0.001), and being married (p < 0.018) were found to reduce the incidence of depressive symptoms. The contribution of personality and anxiety as a trait to depressive symptoms varied. Conclusions: The factors predisposing pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women to depressive symptoms include lower education, lack of a life partner, unemployment, high anxiety, and neurotic personality. No evidence was found for the contribution of genetic factors to depressive symptoms in the examined women.

Gene polymorphisms associated with temperament

When individuals are exposed to stressful environmental challenges, the response varies widely in one or more of three components: psychology, behavior and physiology. This variability among individuals can be defined as temperament. In recent years, an increasing large body of evidence suggests that the dimensions of temperament, as well as personality, psychological disorders and behavioral traits, are influenced by genetic factors, and much of the variation appears to involve variation in genes or gene polymorphisms in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the behavior-controlling neurotransmitter networks. Here, we review our current understanding of the probabilistic impact of a number of candidate gene polymorphisms that control temperament, psychological disorders and behavioral traits in animals and human, including the gene polymorphisms related to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) production and adrenal cortisol production involved in the HPA axis, and a large number of gene polymorphisms in the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter networks. It will very likely to assist in diagnosis and treatment of human relevant disorders, and provide useful contributions to our understanding of evolution, welfare and conservation, for animals in the wild and in production systems. Additionally, investigations of gene-gene and gene-environment complex interactions in humans and animals need further clear illustration.

The role of MAO in personality and drug use

Monoamine oxidases, both MAO-A and MAO-B, have been implicated in personality traits and complex behaviour, including drug use. Findings supporting the involvement of MAO-A and MAO-B in shaping personality and in the development of strategies of making behavioural choices come from a variety of studies that have examined either prevalence of gene variants in clinical groups or population-derived samples, estimates of enzyme activity in blood or, by positron emission tomography, in the brain and, most recently, measurement of methylation of the gene. Most of the studies converge in associating MAO-A and MAO-B with impulsive, aggressive or antisocial personality traits or behaviours, including alcohol-related problems, and for MAO-A available evidence strongly supports interaction with adverse environmental exposures in childhood. What is known about genotype effects, and on expression and activity of the enzyme in the brain and in blood has not yet been possible to unite into a mechanistic model of the role of monoamine systems, but the reason for this low degree of generalization is likely caused by the cross-sectional nature of investigation that has not incorporated the developmental effects of MAO-s in critical time windows, including the foetal period. The "risk variants" of both MAO-s appear to increase behavioural plasticity, as supportive environments may particularly well enhance the hidden potential of their carriers. Importantly, male and female brain and behaviours have been found very different with regard to MAO×life events interaction. Future studies need to take into consideration these developmental aspects and sex/gender, as well as to specify the role of different types of environmental factors.

The analysis of anxiety and mood in healthy late-reproductive-stage women with regard to hormonal and genetic factors

The purpose of this study was to determine whether anxiety and mood disorders in late-reproductive-stage women are related to the serotonin transporter and monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphisms. Research instrument used in this study were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist. The 44-bp VNTR polymorphism in the 5-HTT (SLC 6A4) promoter region and the 30-bp VNTR polymorphism in the MAO-A promoter region were analyzed. The study included 345 healthy Polish women in the late reproductive stage. The mean age of the participants was 42.3 ± 4.5 years. State anxiety was observed in 16.8 % of the women and trait anxiety in 14.5 %. There were no statistically significant differences in the mood and the mean levels of anxiety depending on the presence of the polymorphisms analyzed in this study. Depressed mood is frequent among healthy women in the late reproductive stage. Anxiety is definitely less common. The study did not demonstrate the relationship between the 5-HTT and MAO-A gene polymorphisms, and the severity of anxiety and mood disorders in healthy late-reproductive-stage women.