Type D personality predicts poor medication adherence in patients with heart failure in the USA

A systematic review of primary care-focused, self-reported medication adherence tools

BACKGROUND

Clinician recognition of nonadherence is generally low. Tools that clinicians have used to assess medication adherence are self-reported adherence instruments that ask patients questions about their medication use experience. There is a need for more structured reviews that help clinicians comprehensively distinguish which tool might be most useful and valuable for their clinical setting and patient populations.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to (1) identify validated, self-reported medication adherence tools that are applicable to the primary care setting and (2) summarize selected features of the tools as an assessment of clinical feasibility and applicability.

METHODS

The investigators systematically reviewed MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase via Ovid, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and CINAHL from inception to December 1, 2020. Investigators independently screened 3394 citations, identifying 43 articles describing validation parameters for 25 unique adherence tools. After screening each tool, 17 tools met the inclusion criteria and were qualitatively summarized.

RESULTS

Findings highlight 25 various tool characteristics (i.e., descriptions, parameters and diseases, measures and validity comparators, and other information), which clinicians might consider when selecting a self-reported adherence tool with strong measurement validity that is practical to administer to patients. There was much variability about the nature and extent of adherence measurement. Considerable variation was noted in the objective measures used to correlate to the self-reported tools' measurements. There were wide ranges of correlation between self-reported and objective measures. Several included tools had relatively low to moderate criterion validities. Many manuscripts did not describe whether tools were associated with costs, had copyrights, and were available in other languages; how much time was required for patients to complete self-report tools; and whether patient input informed tool development.

CONCLUSION

There is a critical need to ensure that adherence tool developers establish a key list of tool characteristics to report to help clinicians and researchers make practical comparisons among tools.

Type D Personality as a Risk Factor for Adverse Outcome in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: An Individual Patient-Data Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Type D personality, a joint tendency toward negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been linked to adverse events in patients with heart disease, although with inconsistent findings. Here, we apply an individual patient-data meta-analysis to data from 19 prospective cohort studies ( N = 11,151) to investigate the prediction of adverse outcomes by type D personality in patients with acquired cardiovascular disease.

METHOD

For each outcome (all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, major adverse cardiac event, any adverse event), we estimated type D's prognostic influence and the moderation by age, sex, and disease type.

RESULTS

In patients with cardiovascular disease, evidence for a type D effect in terms of the Bayes factor (BF) was strong for major adverse cardiac event (BF = 42.5; odds ratio [OR] = 1.14) and any adverse event (BF = 129.4; OR = 1.15). Evidence for the null hypothesis was found for all-cause mortality (BF = 45.9; OR = 1.03), cardiac mortality (BF = 23.7; OR = 0.99), and myocardial infarction (BF = 16.9; OR = 1.12), suggesting that type D had no effect on these outcomes. This evidence was similar in the subset of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but inconclusive for patients with heart failure (HF). Positive effects were found for negative affectivity on cardiac and all-cause mortality, with the latter being more pronounced in male than female patients.

CONCLUSION

Across 19 prospective cohort studies, type D predicts adverse events in patients with CAD, whereas evidence in patients with HF was inconclusive. In both patients with CAD and HF, we found evidence for a null effect of type D on cardiac and all-cause mortality.

The negative affectivity dimension of Type D personality associated with increased risk for acute ischemic stroke and white matter hyperintensity

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to examine the relationship among type D personality, acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH).

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study conducted between September 2020 and June 2021, 235 patients aged 50-85 years with first-ever ischemic cerebrovascular disease, including 146 males and 89 females, were enrolled. All participants underwent the Type D Scale-14 test containing negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) subscales. Clinical and laboratory data were also collected for analysis. The patients were divided into the AIS group (n = 148) and the transient ischemic attack (TIA) group (n = 87) according to whether there was an acute lesion.

RESULTS

Patients with type D personality had a higher frequency of AIS and LAA and a higher level of WMH. Multiple logistic regression showed that the NA score was related to a 1.11-fold increase in the odds of AIS (95% CI: 1.03-1.19). Neither NA nor SI showed a clear association with a higher frequency of LAA. Higher scores of NA (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15), SI (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19), and the interaction between the two dimensions (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) were independently associated with an increased load of WMH.

CONCLUSION

Type D personality was related to AIS and WMH. In particular, it was NA, not SI, affected the occurrence of AIS. Our findings may provide new insights regarding behavioral vulnerability for the development of cerebrovascular disorders.

Using Methods From Computational Decision-making to Predict Nonadherence to Fitness Goals: Protocol for an Observational Study

Background

Can methods from computational models of decision-making be used to build a predictive model to identify individuals most likely to be nonadherent to personal fitness goals? Such a model may have significant value in the global battle against obesity. Despite growing awareness of the impact of physical inactivity on human health, sedentary behavior is increasingly linked to premature death in the developed world. The annual impact of sedentary behavior is significant, causing an estimated 2 million deaths. From a global perspective, sedentary behavior is one of the 10 leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Annually, considerable funding and countless public health initiatives are applied to promote physical fitness, with little impact on sustained behavioral change. Predictive models developed from multimodal methodologies combining data from decision-making tasks with contextual insights and objective physical activity data could be used to identify those most likely to abandon their fitness goals. This has the potential to enable development of more targeted support to ensure that those who embark on fitness programs are successful.

Objective

The aim of this study is to determine whether it is possible to use decision-making tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task to help determine those most likely to abandon their fitness goals. Predictive models built using methods from computational models of decision-making, combining objective data from a fitness tracker with personality traits and modeling from decision-making games delivered via a mobile app, will be used to ascertain whether a predictive algorithm can identify digital personae most likely to be nonadherent to self-determined exercise goals. If it is possible to phenotype these individuals, it may be possible to tailor initiatives to support these individuals to continue exercising.

Methods

This is a siteless study design based on a bring your own device model. A total of 200 healthy adults who are novice exercisers and own a Fitbit (Fitbit Inc) physical activity tracker will be recruited via social media for this study. Participants will provide consent via the study app, which they will download from the Google Play store (Alphabet Inc) or Apple App Store (Apple Inc). They will also provide consent to share their Fitbit data. Necessary demographic information concerning age and sex will be collected as part of the recruitment process. Over 12 months, the scheduled study assessments will be pushed to the subjects to complete. The Iowa Gambling Task will be administered via a web app shared via a URL.

Results

Ethics approval was received from Dublin City University in December 2020. At manuscript submission, study recruitment was pending. The expected results will be published in 2022.

Conclusions

It is hoped that the study results will support the development of a predictive model and the study design will inform future research approaches.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04783298; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04783298

A systematic review comparing two popular methods to assess a Type D personality effect

INTRODUCTION

Type D personality, operationalized as high scores on negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), has been associated with various medical and psychosocial outcomes. The recent failure to replicate several earlier findings could result from the various methods used to assess the Type D effect. Despite recommendations to analyze the continuous NA and SI scores, a popular approach groups people as having Type D personality or not. This method does not adequately detect a Type D effect as it is also sensitive to main effects of NA or SI only, suggesting the literature contains false positive Type D effects. Here, we systematically assess the extent of this problem.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic review including 44 published studies assessing a Type D effect with both a continuous and dichotomous operationalization.

RESULTS

The dichotomous method showed poor agreement with the continuous Type D effect. Of the 89 significant dichotomous method effects, 37 (41.6%) were Type D effects according to the continuous method. The remaining 52 (58.4%) are therefore likely not Type D effects based on the continuous method, as 42 (47.2%) were main effects of NA or SI only.

CONCLUSION

Half of the published Type D effect according to the dichotomous method may be false positives, with only NA or SI driving the outcome.

The Influence of Personality Type D on Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Data from a 5-Year-Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND

Type D personality is accompanied by a set of negative behavioral patterns: low physical activity, high levels of psychological distress, low adherence to treatment. However, studies regarding predictive value of the type D personality remain inconclusive: the results varied depending on the examined cohort, age, and ethnicity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of type D personality on the 5-year prognosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Russian population.

METHODS

The study included 602 patients with stable coronary artery disease (490 males, 57.7 ± 7.3 years) who had received CABG and were divided into two groups: patients with type D personality (n = 134) and patients without type D (n = 468). The risk of fatal and nonfatal events within 5 years after CABG was assessed.

RESULTS

There was no difference in total mortality in patients with type D and without type D (7.9% and 7.7%, respectively) over the 5-year period. The absence of cardiac events was detected much less frequently in patients with type D (28%) compared with patients without type D (82%; p = 0.021). Multivariate analysis found independent association between the unfavorable outcome and presence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.021), type D personality (p = 0.039), and multifocal atherosclerosis (p = 0.033) regardless of gender, age, previous myocardial infarction, and stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D patients had a greater risk for cardiac events over 5 years after CABG compared with non-type D patients. Obtained data indicates that it is reasonable to consider personality type while detecting patients at risk of development of stress induced cardiac complications after CABG.

Psychosocial phenotyping as a personalization strategy for chronic disease self-management interventions

BACKGROUND

As the U.S. population grows older and more diverse, self-management needs are increasingly complicated. In order to deliver effective personalized interventions to those suffer from chronic conditions social determinants of health must be considered. Therefore, psychosocial phenotyping holds strong promise as a tool for tailoring interventions based on precision health principles.

PURPOSE

To define psychosocial phenotyping and develop a research agenda that promotes its integration into chronic disease management as a tool for precision self-management interventions.

METHODS

Since psychosocial phenotyping is not yet used in interventions for self-management support, we conducted a literature review to identify potential phenotypes for chronic disease self-management. We also reviewed policy intervention case reports from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine factors related to social determinants of health in people with chronic illnesses. Finally, we reviewed methodological approaches for identifying patient profiles or phenotypes.

RESULTS

The literature review revealed areas within which to collect data for psychosocial phenotyping that can inform personalized interventions. The findings of our exemplar cases revealed that several environmental or key SDOH such as factors realted with economic stability and neighborhood environment have been closely linked with the success of chronic disease management interventions. We elucidated theory, definitions, and pragmatic conceptual boundaries related to psychosocial phenotyping for precision health.

CONCLUSIONS

Our literature review with case example analysis demonstrates the potential usefulness of psychosocial phenotyping as a tool to enhance personalized self-management interventions for people with chronic diseases, with implications for future research.

Mediating effects of social support between Type D personality and self-care behaviours among heart failure patients

AIMS

Patients with heart failure exhibit poor adherence to self-care behaviours. Recent studies have shown a link between Type D personality, social support, and self-care behaviours of patients with chronic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have received little empirical attention in those with heart failure. This study aimed to identify the mediating effects of social support in the relationship between Type D personality and self-care behaviours in patients with heart failure.

DESIGN

This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design.

METHODS

The sample comprised 170 patients aged over 18 years who had been diagnosed with heart failure for over 6 months and visited a tertiary care university hospital in Seoul. From April-July 2019, data were collected through an interview conducted using a structured questionnaire and a review of medical records by two trained research assistants. Multiple regression models were tested using the SPSS PROCESS procedure with bootstrapping to determine the significance of the mediation.

RESULTS

The prevalence of Type D personality in patients with heart failure was 20.0%. Significant associations were identified among Type D personality, social support, and self-care behaviours. Results revealed an indirect effect, suggesting that the effects of Type D personality on self-care behaviours were mediated by social support.

CONCLUSION

Heart failure patients with Type D personality were likely to lack social support, which may have influenced their low adherence to self-care behaviours. Thus, to facilitate long-lasting self-care behaviours, it is vital to provide supportive care or educational programs for patients with Type D personality.

IMPACT

Providing sustainable social support can have a positive impact on the long-term self-care maintenance of patients with heart failure patients who have a Type D personality. Future studies are required to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between Type D personality, social support, and self-care behaviours.

Type D personality and life event stress: the mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships

Background and Objective: Type D personality has been associated with increased perceptions of stress. As Type D individuals have been noted to report lower social support and greater perceptions of negativity in social interactions, this study examined if the association between Type D personality and life events stress was mediated by these social relationships. Design: A cross-sectional design. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 197) completed questionnaires assessing Type D personality, social support, negative social relationships, and life events stress. Results: Unadjusted analyses revealed that Type D individuals perceived their life events to be significantly more stressful than non-Type D individuals. Type D individuals also reported increased perceptions of negative social relationships and lower social support. Finally, the association between Type D personality and life events stress was mediated by perceptions of negative social relationships. However, when controlling for the main effects of negative affectivity and social inhibition, Type D was not significantly associated with social relationship or life events variables. Further, effects appeared to be primarily driven by negative affectivity. Conclusion: These results support recent findings in the Type D literature that have identified null effects of Type D when controlling for negative affectivity.

Personality traits and preventive cancer screenings in the Health Retirement Study

The Five-Factor model of personality has been associated with a wide range of health behaviors and health outcomes. However, few studies have examined whether personality traits are related to cancer screening in older adults. The present study investigated the cross-sectional associations between personality traits and the probability of obtaining a recent preventive screening for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Participants from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 14,394, Mage = 68.14 years, range = 50-102 years, 58.6% female) completed a personality inventory and reported on cancer screenings in the 2010-2012 assessment. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, income, and wealth as covariates. Higher conscientiousness was associated with a higher likelihood of obtaining breast, cervical, and prostate screening. Higher extraversion was related to higher odds of breast, cervical, and colorectal screening. Higher neuroticism was linked to higher odds of colorectal screening, and conscientiousness moderated the link between neuroticism and cervical screening. These associations were significant in models that accounted for demographic and socioeconomic factors. The effect sizes were in the range of a 10-20% higher likelihood of cancer screening for 1 SD difference in personality. The present findings suggest that conscientiousness and extraversion were related to preventive cancer screenings, whereas neuroticism, openness and agreeableness were largely unrelated to the likelihood of such screenings. If these results are further replicated, health policy makers may consider personality traits when planning and implementing screening recommendations to improve preventive medicine.

Relationship between Type D personality and dropout from dental treatment in middle-aged adults

Type D personality-the tendency toward combined negative affectivity and social inhibition-is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Although Type D personality has been linked to low adherence to diabetic care, it is unclear whether it is related to adherence to dental therapy. Thus, study examined the relationship between Type D personality and withdrawal from dental therapy. A web-based questionnaire was used to compare a treatment dropout group (n = 225) and maintenance group(n = 236). The questionnaire was designed to assess Type D personality traits, reasons for dropout, and respondent sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes. There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of the two groups. However, the proportion of respondents with a Type D personality was significantly larger in the dropout group than in the maintenance group (P = 0.04). The most common reasons for dental therapy dropout were "improvement of symptoms" (46.2%) and "busy with business or study" (30.7%). The most frequent attitude reported in the dropout group was negative feelings toward dental practice. In conclusion, Type D personality might be related to dropout from dental therapy.

Are illness perceptions, beliefs about medicines and Type D personality associated with medication adherence among thyroid cancer survivors? A study from the population-based PROFILES registry

Objective: To examine self-reported medication adherence and its association with illness perceptions, beliefs about medication and personality among thyroid cancer survivors. Methods: Individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received our survey; 86% (n = 306) responded.Results: Many patients reported that they never forgot taking their medicines (n = 168; 56%), never altered the dose (n = 258; 88%), never stopped taking them (n = 291; 99%), never decided to miss a dose (n = 284; 97%) and never took less than instructed (n = 286; 97%). Fifty-two percent were classified as nonadherent; of which 14% intentional nonadherent only, 70% were nonintentional nonadherent only and 16% were both intentional and nonintentional nonadherent. Nonadherers were younger, more highly educated, more often employed, had a lower stage at diagnosis, and less often reported ≥2 comorbid conditions than adherers. Furthermore, their illness affected them more emotionally and they more often reported that their life would be impossible without their medicine. Logistic regression models showed that higher age, lower education and lower perceived necessity of medication was associated with better adherence while beliefs about medication, illness perceptions, and personality were not associated with adherence.Conclusions: Despite lifelong dependence on supplement therapy, 52% of thyroid cancer survivors were nonadherent.

The negative affectivity dimension of Type D personality is associated with in-stent neoatherosclerosis in coronary patients with percutaneous coronary intervention: An optical coherence tomography study

OBJECTIVE

In-stent neoatherosclerosis (ISNA) is involved in the pathogenesis of in-stent restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to explore the association between Type D personality and ISNA via in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-six patients with CAD completed the Type D Scale-14 and underwent in vivo measurement of in-stent neoatherosclerosis by OCT. The Type D construct was analyzed as both the dichotomous and the dimension constructs.

RESULTS

After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors and presenting as a dichotomous construct, Type D personality was independently associated with the presence of in-stent neoatherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35-6.63, p = 0.007) and in-stent thin-cap fibroatheroma (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.27-6.23, p = 0.01). Meanwhile, the multiple logistic regression also showed that the main effect of negative affectivity was an independent risk factor of in-stent neoatherosclerosis (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.25-2.75, p = 0.002) and in-stent thin-cap fibroatheroma (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.18-2.67, p = 0.006). However, the main effects of social inhibition with in-stent neoatherosclerosis and in-stent thin-cap fibroatheroma (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.64-1.52, p = 0.94; OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.63-1.39, p = 0.75, respectively) as well as the interaction of negative affectivity and social inhibition were not significant (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.69-1.81, p = 0.11; OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.47-1.08, p = 0.12, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality was found to be independently associated with in-stent neoatherosclerosis via OCT in patients with CAD after PCI. It was negative affectivity, not social inhibition, that affected the occurrence of the in-stent neoatherosclerosis, these results challenged the usefulness of the Type D construct. Our findings may provide new insights regarding the mechanisms of the association between Type D personality and MACE after PCI.

Negative affectivity and social inhibition are associated with increased cardiac readmission in patients with heart failure: A preliminary observation study

Background

Type D personality was hypothesized to influence clinical and patient-centered outcomes patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between negative affectivity and social inhibition components of Type D personality and cardiac readmission in patients with heart failure.

Methods

A prospective observational study design was used. A total of 222 patients with heart failure were recruited from the department of cardiology in two regional hospitals in Taiwan. The 14-item Type D Scale-Taiwanese version was used to assess negative affectivity and social inhibition of the patients. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association of both Z-score transformed and dichotomized negative affectivity and social inhibition with 6-month and 18-month cardiac readmissions.

Results

A total of 55 patients (24.8%) and 89 patients (40.1%) had cardiac readmissions within 6 months and 18 months, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses of Z-score transformed negative affectivity and social inhibition were significantly associated with (1) 6-month cardiac readmission with odds ratios of 1.62 (P = 0.003) and 1.48 (P = 0.014), respectively and (2) 18-month cardiac readmission with odds ratios of 1.45 (P = 0.013) and 1.38 (P = 0.031), respectively. Similar findings were obtained when negative affectivity and social inhibition were analyzed as dichotomized scores.

Conclusions

Negative affectivity and social inhibition components of the Type D personality were significantly associated with a higher risk of cardiac readmission in both 6 months and 18 months after the initial hospitalization in patients with heart failure.

Medication Adherence Mediates the Relationship Between Heart Failure Symptoms and Cardiac Event-Free Survival in Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) symptoms such as dyspnea are common and may precipitate hospitalization. Medication nonadherence is presumed to be associated with symptom exacerbations, yet how HF symptoms, medication adherence, and hospitalization/death are related remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships among HF symptoms, medication adherence, and cardiac event-free survival in patients with HF.

METHODS

At baseline, patient demographics, clinical data, and HF symptoms were collected in 219 patients with HF. Medication adherence was monitored using the Medication Event Monitoring System. Patients were followed for up to 3.5 years to collect hospitalization and survival data. Logistic regression and survival analyses were used for the analyses.

RESULTS

Patients reporting dyspnea or ankle swelling were more likely to have poor medication adherence (P = .05). Poor medication adherence was associated with worse cardiac event-free survival (P = .006). In Cox regression, patients with HF symptoms had 2 times greater risk for a cardiac event than patients without HF symptoms (P = .042). Heart failure symptoms were not a significant predictor of cardiac event-free survival after entering medication adherence in the model (P = .091), indicating mediation.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication adherence was associated with fewer HF symptoms and lower rates of hospitalization and death. It is important to develop interventions to improve medication adherence that may reduce HF symptoms and high hospitalization and mortality in patients with HF.

Type D personality and coronary atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability: The potential mediating effect of health behavior

OBJECTIVE

The association between type D personality and coronary plaque vulnerability has been suggested. The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential mediating effects of health behavior on the association between type D personality and plaque vulnerability in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

METHODS

A total of 319 CAD patients were assessed for type D personality and health behavior via self-administered questionnaires. The plaque vulnerability, evaluated according to characteristics, accompaniment, and outcomes of plaque, was assessed by optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that type D personality was independently associated with lipid plaque (odds ratio [OR] = 2.387, p = 0.001), thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (OR = 2.366, p = 0.001), rupture (OR = 2.153, p = 0.002), and lipid arc (β = -0.291, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that aspects of health behavior were significant mediators of the relationship between type D personality and plaque vulnerability. Psychological stress mediated the relationship between type D and lipid plaque (p = 0.030), TCFA (p = 0.034), and rupture (p = 0.013). Living habits significantly mediated the relationship between type D and lipid plaque (p = 0.028), TCFA (p = 0.036), but not rupture (p = 0.066). Participating in activities was not a significant mediator of the relationship between type D personality and lipid plaque (p = 0.115), TCFA (p = 0.115), or rupture (p = 0.077).

CONCLUSIONS

Health behaviors (psychological stress and living habits) may be mediators of the association between type D personality and plaque vulnerability.

Exploring potential biomarkers associated with health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure

Objective:

There has been a lack of research examining associations between biomarkers and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure. In patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure, we aimed to explore potential associations between biomarkers of health such as serum levels of thyroid hormones, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), inflammatory biomarkers and HRQoL.

Methods:

In sum, 482 patients (75% male; mean age 58±10 years) with coronary artery disease and heart failure were evaluated for socio-demographic and clinical coronary artery disease risk factors. Blood samples were drawn to evaluate thyroid hormones, NT-pro-BNP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additional data was collected on HRQoL (the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), Type D personality (DS14 scale).

Results:

In multivariable models, lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were associated with worse results on the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire emotional subscale (β = −0.107, p = 0.003; β = −0.106, p = 0.004). Lower levels of interleukin-6 were associated with worse perceived global health (β = −0.101, p = 0.011).

Conclusion:

Even after controlling for socio-demographic and clinical risk factors including mental distress symptoms, lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers were associated with worse HRQoL.

Is Type D personality a risk factor for all-cause mortality? A prospective population-based study among 2625 colorectal cancer survivors from the PROFILES registry

Objective Our goal was to examine whether Type D personality and its components, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), were associated with all-cause mortality among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODS

CRC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009, as registered in the Dutch population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a questionnaire on Type D (DS14) on average 5.3years after diagnosis. Survival status (31-12-2013) was obtained from the Central Bureau for Genealogy. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to relate personality to all-cause mortality, while adjusting for demographics, clinical characteristics and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

RESULTS

Fifty percent was categorized as the 'reference group' (n=1281), 17% as 'SI only' (n=421), 12% as 'NA only' (n=309), and 21% as 'Type D' (n=532). After adjustment, CRC patients in the 'NA only' and 'Type D' groups showed an increased risk (HR=2.0, 95% CI=1.4-2.8, p<0.01, and HR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3-2.4, p<0.01) for all-cause mortality. This adverse effect of NA was limited to men aged >70. There was an additional adverse effect of SI on all-cause mortality in older men without CVD (HR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2-4.4, p=0.01). Personality was not related to mortality in women. Entering personality continuously, showed an increased risk for NA among older survivors, men and patients with comorbid CVD. Neither SI nor the interaction term was predictive in both the un- and adjusted Cox models.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that it is the NA component that drives the adverse effect of psychological distress on survival in CRC patients, which is most prominent among older men.

Type D personality negatively associated with self-care in Chinese heart failure patients

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the association between type D personality and self-care behaviors in heart failure (HF) patients. We examined the effect of type D personality on self-care behaviors and self-efficacy among Chinese HF patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted. All participants completed the questionnaires of the self-care of HF index (V6) and type D personality scale. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained from medical records and patient interviews. The methods used for data analysis included descriptive analysis, independent-sample t-test, χ (2) test, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

A total of 127 HF patients were included and 61.4% of them were male. The average age for this study sample was 64.9 ± 12.34 years. The majority of the participants were in a New York Heart Association class III or IV (87%), and the average length of living with HF was 38.24 ± 41.1 months. A total of 33.1% of the participants were identified as having type D personality. No significant differences were determined in the demographic and clinical variables between type D and non-type D patients, except for the mean age and the length of living with HF. Type D patients were younger and had a shorter time of living with HF than their non-type D counterparts. Multiple regression demonstrated significant associations between type D personality and self-care maintenance and self-efficacy after adjusting the demographic and clinical factors. However, type D personality was not significantly associated with self-care management behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality was negatively related to self-care maintenance and self-efficacy in Chinese HF patients. Future study is warranted to develop a tailored intervention to improve engagement in self-care behaviors in HF patients with type D personality.

Type D Personality Associated With Health and Mental Health Problems: A Comment on Lussier and Loas (2015)

Lussier and Loas examined relationship between anhedonia, depression, and type D personality. The aim of this commentary is to extend the discussion to four aspects not considered in the original article: association of type D personality with problems other than those of cardiovascular health, inconsistent findings in these associations, data on association between type D personality and mental problems, and an attempt to interpret their main findings. The proposed interpretation refers to trait anxiety as is partially incorporated into the type D personality.

Psychological Determinants of Heart Failure Self-Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Psychological distress has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), which is assumed to be partly due to poor HF self-care behavior. This systematic review and meta-analysis describes the current evidence concerning psychological determinants of self-care in patients with chronic HF.

METHODS

Eligible studies were systematically identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (Web of Science) for relevant literature (1980-October 17, 2014). Study quality was assessed according to the level of risk of bias. Quantitative data were pooled using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Sixty-five studies were identified for inclusion that varied considerably with respect to sample and study characteristics. Risk of bias was high in the reviewed studies and most problematic with regard to selection bias (67%). Depression (r = -0.19, p < .001), self-efficacy (r = 0.37, p < .001), and mental well-being (r = 0.14, p = .030) were significantly associated with self-reported self-care. Anxiety was not significantly associated with either self-reported (r = -0.18, p = .24) or objective self-care (r = -0.04, p = .79), neither was depression associated with objectively measured medication adherence (r = -0.05, p = .44).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological factors (depression, self-efficacy, and mental well-being) were associated with specific self-care facets in patients with chronic HF. These associations were predominantly observed with self-reported indices of self-care and not objective indices. Methodological heterogeneity and limitations preclude definite conclusions about the association between psychological factors and self-care and should be addressed in future research.

Type D Personality Predicts Poor Medication Adherence in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study

Background

Type D personality and medication nonadherence have been shown to be associated with poor health outcomes. Type D personality is associated with poor medication adherence in patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, the relationship between type D personality and medication adherence in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) remains unknown. This study aims to examine whether type D personality was associated with medication adherence in patients with T2DM.

Design and Settings

A follow-up study was conducted in general hospital of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing.

Methods

412 T2DM patients (205 females), who were recruited by circular systematic random sampling, provided demographic and baseline data about medical information and completed measures of Type D personality. Then, 330 patients went on to complete a self-report measure of medication adherence at the sixth month after baseline data collection. Chi-square test, t tests, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted, as needed.

Results

Patients with type D personality were significantly more likely to have poor medication adherence (p<0.001). Type D personality predicts poor medication adherence before and after controlling for covariates when it was analyzed as a categorical variable. However, the dimensional construct of type D personality was not associated with medication adherence when analyzed as a continuous variable.

Conclusion

Although, as a dimensional construct, type D personality may not reflect the components of the personality associated with poor medication adherence in patients with T2DM, screening for type D personality may help to identify those who are at higher risk of poor medication adherence. Interventions, aiming to improve medication adherence, should be launched for these high-risk patients.

Is type-D personality trait(s) or state? An examination of type-D temporal stability in older Israeli adults in the community

Background. Type D personality was suggested as a marker of poorer prognosis for patients of cardiovascular disease. It is defined by having a score of 10 or more on both sub-scales of the DS14 questionnaire, Social Inhibition (SI) and Negative Affectivity (NA). As Type D was designed to predict risk, its temporal stability is of prime importance.

Methods. Participants in the current study were 285 community volunteers, who completed the DS14, and other personality scales, at a mean interval of six years.

Results. The prevalence of Type D did not change. The component traits of Type D showed rank order stability. Type D caseness temporal stability was improved by using the sub-scales product as a criterion. Logistic hierarchical regression predicting Type D classification from Time1 demonstrated that the best predictors were Time1 scores on NA and SI, with the character trait of Cooperation, and the alexithymia score adding some predictive power.

Conclusions. The temporal stability of the component traits, and of the prevalence of Type D were excellent. Temporal stability of Type D caseness may be improved by using a product threshold, rather than the current rule. Research is required in order to formulate the optimal timing for Type D measurement for predictive purposes.

Type D personality and physical inactivity: The mediating effects of low self-efficacy

Type D personality is associated with health-damaging behaviours among the general population. This study assessed the relationship between Type D personality, physical activity and self-efficacy. A total of 189 participants completed measures of Type D personality, physical activity and self-efficacy. Type D individuals had significantly lower levels of self-efficacy and engaged in significantly less walking and total exercise compared to non-Type D's. Furthermore, self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between Type D and physical activity. Low levels of self-efficacy may be one mechanism to help explain why Type D individuals engage in more disease-promoting behaviours.

Type D personality, self-efficacy, and medication adherence in patients with heart failure-A mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Type D personality is associated with medication non-adherence. Both Type D personality and non-adherence are predictors of poor outcomes. Self-efficacy, which is modifiable, is also associated with medication adherence.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationships among Type D personality, self-efficacy, and medication adherence in 84 heart failure patients.

METHODS

Self-efficacy, Type D personality, medication adherence, demographic and clinical data were collected. Hierarchical linear regression was used.

RESULTS

Type D patients were more likely to have lower self-efficacy (p = .023) and medication non-adherence (p = .027) than non-Type D patients. Low self-efficacy was associated with medication non-adherence (p < .001). Type D personality didn't predict medication adherence after entering self-efficacy in the model (p = .422), demonstrating mediation.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between Type D personality and medication adherence. Developing and applying interventions to enhance self-efficacy may help to sever the link between Type D personality and poor outcomes.

Type D personality, mental distress, social support and health-related quality of life in coronary artery disease patients with heart failure: a longitudinal observational study

Background

The relationship between Type D personality and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in coronary artery disease patients is becoming more established, however, the factors that may explain this association remain unclear. The objective of the study was to examine the mediating effects of mental distress and social support on the relationship between the Type D personality and HRQoL in CAD patients with heart failure.

Methods

A total of 855 CAD patients with heart failure were assessed on Type D personality, mental distress, perceived social support and HRQoL with the following self-administered questionnaires: the Type D personality scale - 14, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of Type D personality within the study population was 33.5%. Type D personality, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and social support were all found to be determinants of decreased HRQoL (p’s < 0.001), once age, gender, NYHA functional class and acute myocardial infarction were adjusted for. Anxiety, depressive symptoms and social support were found to mediate the relationship between Type D personality and HRQoL. Type D personality exerted a stable effect on HRQoL over 24 months follow-up period.

Conclusions

Type D personality has an independent significant effect on the HRQoL in CAD patients with heart failure, and this relation is mediated by anxiety and depressive symptoms, social support.

Type-d personality can predict suicidality in patients with major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the putative association between type-D personality and suicidality, including the history of suicide attempt and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

Eighty-six outpatients aged between 18 and 65 years with MDD were recruited for this study from Ilsan Paik Hospital. The cohort was stratified into two subgroups according to the presence of type-D personality and history of suicide attempt (yes vs. no). Depression severity was evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The type-D Personality Scale-14 (DS-14), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) were also applied.

RESULTS

The total BSS, BHS, and BIS scores were higher for the group with type-D personality than for the group without this personality (p=0.004, 0.01, and 0.003, respectively). In addition, the total scores for the BSS, BHS, and social inhibition (SI; subscale of DS-14) were higher for the group with a history of suicide attempt than for the group without this history (p=0.0000004, 0.003, and 0.033, respectively). There were positive correlations between the total DS-14 score and the total BSS, BHS, and BIS scores (r=0.413 and p=0.000077, r=0.404 and p=0.00012, and r=0.245 and p=0.024, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Depressed patients with type-D personality are more vulnerable to suicidality than those without type-D personality, even when the MDD severity is identical. In addition, the SI score was higher in patients with a history of suicide attempt than in those without this history.