Type-D personality and quality of life in patients with primary brain tumours

Type D Personality as a Marker of Poorer Quality of Life and Mood Status Disturbances in Patients with Skin Diseases: A Systematic Review

Type D personality is characterized by social inhibition and negative affectivity. Poorer outcomes and worse quality of life have been linked to type D personality in patients with a variety of non-dermatological diseases. Despite increasing evidence of the importance of type D personality in skin diseases, there are no reviews on this subject. The aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence regarding type D personality and skin diseases. A systematic search was performed using Medline and Web of Science databases from inception to 11 October 2022. Studies addressing the presence of type D personality, its associated factors, its impact on the outcomes of the disease or the quality of life of the patients were included in the systematic review. A total of 20 studies, including 3,124 participants, met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, melanoma, atopic dermatitis, chronic spontaneous urticaria and pruritic disorders were the main diseases assessed. Type D personality was more frequent among patients with skin diseases than among controls. Type D personality was found to be associated with poorer quality of life and higher rates of psychological comorbidities in patients with skin diseases. In conclusion, type D personality appears to be a marker of patients with increased risk of poorer quality of life and higher rates of psychological comorbidities. Screening for type D personality in specialized dermatology units might be beneficial to identify patients who are more psychologically vulnerable to the consequences of chronic skin diseases.

Relationships among Symptoms, Disability, Type D Personality, and Quality of Life in Patients with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Type D personality as a personality vulnerable to stress consists of negative affectivity and social inhibition, and it is related to symptoms and decreased quality of life in patients with chronic illness.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the relationships among migraine symptoms, disability, type D personality, and quality of life in patients with migraine.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 135 patients with migraine was collected at the neurologic outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Frequency and severity of migraine symptoms, Migraine Disability Assessment, type D personality, and quality of life were investigated using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used.

RESULTS

Sixty-one (45.2%) were classified as type D personality. The intensity of the most severe migraine and Migraine Disability Assessment scores in subjects with type D personality were significantly higher than those in subjects without type D personality. In addition, the quality of life score of subjects with type D personality was significantly lower than in subjects without type D personality. The intensity of the migraine, Migraine Disability Assessment score, and type D personality were significant factors influencing quality of life on stepwise multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality was related to migraine symptoms, disability, and quality of life in patients with migraine.

Type D Personality Is Associated with Poorer Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Cross-sectional Study

Type D personality (TDp) is a stable personality type that has been associated with poor quality of life in the general population and in patients with a variety of diseases, such as cancer, cardiac diseases, and dermatological diseases (e.g. psoriasis). To date, the potential association between chronic spontaneous urticaria and TDp has not been studied. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of TDp on patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria, regarding mood disturbances, quality of life, sexuality, and sleep disturbances. A cross-sectional study including 75 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria was performed. Data on socio- demographic variables and disease activity, quality of life, sleep, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, depression and TDp were collected using validated questionnaires. TDp was present in 28% (21/75) of the patients. Although TDp was not related to worse disease control, the presence of anxiety and depression was higher in patients with TDp. Regarding quality of life, TDp was associated with poorer quality of life and higher frequency of sleep disturbances. Prevalence of TDp in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria is similar to that in the general population. It is associated with mood status disturbances and worse quality of life regardless of disease severity, especially in the emotional and psychological domains. This group of patients could benefit from additional psychological support as a complement to their medical treatment.

The Burden on Cohabitants of Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) has been associated with patients’ poor quality of life. Despite being a chronic disease that could alter the quality of life of the people who live with patients, the potential burden on their cohabitants has not been studied to date. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between the patient’s quality of life, disease control, disease duration and family quality of life and the cohabitant’s mood disturbances, sexual dysfunction, type D personality and sleep quality. A cross-sectional study including patients suffering from CSU and their cohabitants was performed. Sociodemographic variables and disease activity, quality of life, sleep, sexual disfunction, anxiety, depression and type D personality were collected using validated questionnaires. Sixty-two subjects, 31 CSU patients and 31 cohabitants, were included in the study. Worse disease control and poorer quality of life in patients were associated with poorer family quality of life and higher rates of anxiety among the cohabitants (p < 0.05). Patients’ poor quality of life was associated with reduced sexual satisfaction among the cohabitants (p < 0.05). Long disease duration (>10 years) was associated with an increased prevalence of type D personality among the cohabitants (prevalence ratio: 2.59, CI 95% 1.03−7.21). CSU seems to have an impact on the quality of life of cohabitants, especially in terms of increased rates of anxiety, poorer quality of life and reduced sexual satisfaction. The prolonged course of the disease could be associated with the increased presence of non-adaptative personality traits.

Right ventricular dysfunction during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer

Aim. To assess the right ventricle (RV) during chemotherapy (CT) in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Material and methods. The study included 40 women aged 35-72 years with BC who underwent anthracycline chemotherapy. The main group (n=40) included women with BC, examined at the first contact, 37 of whom were reexamined after 6 months. Control group (n=25) included women without BC.

Results. In the main group, the median transverse dimension and anterior wall thickness of the RV were significantly greater than in the control group (p<0,001). Early diastolic transtricuspid flow velocity (Et) after 6 months was lower than in the control group (p=0,003). The ratio of Et to late (At) diastolic transtricuspid flow (Et/At) in BC patients significantly decreased during the follow-up period (p<0,05) when compared with the control group and baseline values. Higher values of Tei index were noted in the main group compared to the control one (p<0,05). Using logistic regression for the Tei index, the model included radiation therapy, the total anthracycline dose, and negative affectivity score as follows: F(3,17)=12,548, p<0,001, R2=0,729. For the Et/At ratio, additional radiation therapy and heart rate were significant factors as follows: F(2,16)=12,548, p=0,005, R2=0,526.

Conclusion. Against the background of CT, deterioration of RV systolic (increase in Tei index and RV volume) and diastolic (decrease in Et and Et/At ratio) function was noted.

Chronotype Profile, Stress, Depression Level, and Temporomandibular Symptoms in Students with Type D Personality

Background: Despite a growing interest in the types of human circadian activity, different chronotypes and personality-related issues have been rarely studied. It has already been emphasized that ‘stress personality’ is considered a risk factor for certain psychosomatic diseases and may be a temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) predictor. Therefore, an attempt has been made to analyze the chronotypes, stress levels, stress factors, and the occurrence of depression and TMDs in students with type D personalities. People with this personality trait tend to experience negative emotions more—depression, anxiety, anger, or hostility—yet may have a negative image of themselves and report somatic complaints. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the importance of the chronotype profile for the level of stress perceived, as well as for the occurrence of depression and TMDs in people with type D personalities. Material and Methods: The study has been conducted on a group of 220 physical therapy students. The study group G1 consisted of 110 participants with type D personalities, the control group G2 consisted of the same number of participants without the stress personality. All participants have been analyzed for the chronotype (MEQ), stress perception (PSS10), the occurrence of depression (Beck scale-BDI), the occurrence of TMDs symptoms and have completed the stress factor assessment questionnaire during the study, followed by DS14 questionnaire—a tool for assessing the prevalence of type D personality. Results: In students with type D personalities (G1), the definitely evening and evening chronotypes have been significantly more predominant than in the control group (G2). A significantly higher number of stressors and TMDs symptoms have been observed in the respondents from the G1 group than in the control group (<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that type D personality was strongly associated with a more frequent occurrence of all TMD symptoms. Additionally, a significant influence of the evening chronotype on the occurrence of type D personality was observed. Among the potential confounding variables, female gender and a mild and moderate degree of depression have an impact on the occurrence of type D personality (p < 0.05). In the multivariate model, adjusted with the above-mentioned factors, an increased risk of the type D personality trait was found. Conclusion: The evening chronotype and type D personality may imply greater feelings of stress, greater depression, and more frequent symptoms of TMDs in young adults.

The Effects of Lifestyle Interventions on the Health-Promoting Behavior, Type D Personality, Cognitive Function and Body Composition of Low-Income Middle-Aged Korean Women

Low-income middle-aged women (LMW) who are vulnerable have various physical and psychosocial problems. They need lifestyle interventions to actively cope with these risk factors. This study used a randomized control group pretest-posttest design. LMW aged from 40 to 60 years were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 32). The lifestyle interventions for this study, which were implemented for eight weeks, included nutritional management, physical activity, stress management and cognitive function improvement based on King’s goal attainment theory. The measured outcomes were health-promoting behaviors, Type D personality, cognitive function and body composition. The experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group for health-promoting behaviors (effect size (ES) = 0.68~1.27, p < 0.001~0.014) and cognitive function (ES = 0.79~1.31, p < 0.001~0.005). The negative affectivity (ES = 0.70, p = 0.012) and the prevalence of a Type D personality (x² = 4.39, p = 0.047) and the systolic blood pressure (ES = 0.65, p = 0.019) decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group. Lifestyle interventions for LMW were effective in improving health-promoting behavior, Type D personality traits and cognitive function.