Impact of a Type D Personality on Clinical and Psychometric Properties in a Sample of Turkish Patients With a First Myocardial Infarction

Psychiatric disorders, rumination, and metacognitions in patients with type D personality and coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and type D personality, and whether these patients may benefit from psychotherapy that modifies metacognitive beliefs implicated in disorder maintenance. This study explored prevalence rates among these patients and associations between type D characteristics, rumination and metacognitions.

METHODS

Forty-seven consecutive patients with CHD who scored positive for type D personality were included in this pre-planned study. Participants underwent structured clinical interviews for mental and personality disorders and completed questionnaires assessing rumination and metacognitions.

RESULTS

Mean age was 53.8 (SD 8.1) years and 21.3% were female. At least one mood disorder or anxiety disorder was found in 70.2% and 61.7% of the patients. The most common disorders were major depressive disorder (59.6%), social phobia (40.4%), and generalized anxiety disorder (29.8%). At least one personality disorder was detected in 42.6%. Only 21% reported ongoing treatment with psychotropic medication whereas none had psychotherapy. Metacognitions and rumination were significantly associated with negative affectivity (0.53-0.72, p < .001) but not social inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Mood and anxiety disorders were highly prevalent and relatively untreated among these patients. Future studies should test the metacognitive model for type D personality.

The association of Type D personality with functional outcomes, quality of life and neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association of Type D personality (TDP) with functional outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), using dichotomous and continuous analysis methods.

SETTING

Tertiary rehabilitation center.

METHODS

This study included 105 persons with SCI. Independence level was determined using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-motor subscale. The Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL. TDP (combined existence of negative affectivity and social inhibition) was assessed using Type D Scale-14 (DS-14). Presence of chronic pain was questioned and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale was used to distinguish neuropathic pain from others.

RESULTS

In dichotomous method, the FIM-motor score was significantly lower in persons with TDP (41 persons, 39%) (p = 0.025). Persons with TDP had significantly lower scores in vitality, emotional role and mental health. There was no significant difference between the groups, regarding neuropathic pain and LANSS scores (p > 0.05 for all). Negative affectivity and total DS-14 scores had negative correlation with mental health and vitality. In continuous interaction method, TDP predicted mainly the mental health components of SF-36 (particularly, vitality and mental health). Negative affectivity was the driving factor. TDP was not associated with FIM-motor, VAS pain or LANSS scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental component of HRQoL is associated with Type D in persons with SCI in both analyses. Assessment of potential differences related with TDP may be beneficial to develop and apply person-specific goals in SCI rehabilitation.

Stress Responses to One-Day Athletic Tournament in Sport Coaches: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Watching athletic tournaments induces emotional and physiological responses in sports fans and coaches. The aim of the study was to investigate hormonal and cardiovascular responses in judo coaches observing the fights of their athletes during one-day, high-level tournaments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied the biological responses of a group of seventeen judo club coaches between the ages of 39 and 57 years to a one-day judo tournament attended by the adult male and/or female athletes that they coached. At the time of the tournaments and also in neutral conditions, the coaches' capillary blood and saliva samples were collected concurrently two times a day, both at 7:30 a.m. and after completion of the tournament (at about 8:00 p.m.). Cardiovascular parameters were also determined at the same times of day. Sleep quality (SQ) was assessed on a 6-point scale both on the night preceding the tournament and in neutral conditions. Cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) levels were determined from serum and saliva samples. The results for both days at different times of day were compared.

RESULTS

Statistical calculations showed higher concentrations of cortisol and a greater reduction of testosterone levels in serum and saliva at the end of the day during the tournament compared with those on a neutral day. Morning and evening cardiovascular indices were higher during the tournament.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that during one-day tournaments, judo coaches were exposed to stress that induced intermittent hormonal changes in blood and saliva and activated the autonomic nervous system.

Association between Satisfaction with Life and Personality Types A and D in Young Women with Acne Vulgaris

People with acne vulgaris report a lower level of satisfaction with life and are more frequently classified as having Type D personalities than those without acne. This research examined, for the first time, the moderating and mediating role of personality type in the relationship between acne severity and satisfaction with life. Among 300 female nursing and cosmetology students ranging in age from 19 to 24 years (M = 21.28, SD = 1.39), 150 individuals (50%) presented with symptoms of acne vulgaris (AV group), while the other 150 (50%) were categorized as controls without acne vulgaris (WAV sample). A cross-sectional study was conducted using three self-report questionnaires: The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Framingham Type A Scale (FTAS), and the Type D Scale (DS14). Acne vulgaris was clinically diagnosed using the Hellgren–Vincent Scale (HVS). The AV group scored significantly higher on the FTAS and DS14 and lower on the SWLS than the WAV sample. Life satisfaction correlated negatively with both the negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) subscales of the DS14. The moderating role of the Type A behavioral pattern (TABP) and the mediating role of both NA and SI subscales of the DS14 were observed in the relationship between acne severity and satisfaction with life. The type of personality may explain the mechanism of the relationship between acne disease and subjective well-being. Therefore, psychological interventions and strategies focused on managing stress and mood may effectively improve satisfaction with life in people with acne.

A Review of Personality Type D on Cardiovascular Disease Patients

Introduction: The type of personality that a patient has as a psychosocial factor has been associated with the incidence and progression of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to review the evidence and correlation between personality type and the development of cardiovascular disease.Methods: Articles were searched for using the PRISMA approach in the CINAHL, Science Direct and Scopus databases, limited to the last 5 years. The articles were from 2013 to 2018 and the language used was English. The studies focused on personality type D and cardiovascular disease, and the participants were above 18 years old.Results: Most of the findings of the studies showed that individuals with a type D personality have a relationship with more severe heart disease, which relates to several physiological factors, namely emotion increase, anxiety, stress, biological factors, cognitive decline and the decrease in quality of life.Conclusion: Individuals with type D personality have a higher level of stress, significant blood pressure, higher pulse and they experience an increase in cortisol compared to non-type D personalities. Individuals who suffer from cardiovascular disease with personality type D tend to experience a more severe progression of the condition of cardiovascular disease.

Latent profiles of early trauma & Type D personality: sex differences in cardiovascular risk markers

BACKGROUND

Both adverse early life-events and distressed personality are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. As there is an important link between these psychological factors, we investigated how these might cluster in sex-specific psychological profiles. We further examined the association of these profiles with cardiovascular risk markers.

METHOD

446 women (mean age = 49.8 ± 17.9 years) and 431 men (mean age = 49.4 ± 17.5 years) from the Dutch general population completed questionnaires on demographics, adverse early life-events (ETI), Type D personality (DS14), anxiety (GAD-7) and depressive (PHQ-9) symptoms, and traditional cardiovascular risk markers.

RESULTS

A step-3 latent profile analysis identified three profiles in women (Reference, Type D & trauma, and Type D/no trauma) and four in men (Reference, Type D & trauma, Type D/no trauma, and Physical abuse). In women, the Type D/no trauma was associated with highest levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 2.11-2.89), lipid abnormalities (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.47-9.27), and increased levels of alcohol use (OR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42-9.30). The Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.70-2.42), highest levels of smoking (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1.21-8.97) and alcohol use (OR = 7.63; 95% CI: 2.86-20.33). Women in both profiles were older as compared to the Reference group (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20). There were no significant differences between the profiles in lifestyle factors and cardiometabolic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In women, the Type D/no trauma profile and the Type D & trauma profile were associated with a specific combination of cardiovascular risk markers. In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with an increased level of emotional symptoms.