Temperament Characteristics, Anxiety and Depression in People with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Aim: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive and self-limiting disease. FMF is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, peritonitis, synovitis and pleuritis. Individuals with chronic illness tend to experience depression or anxiety. It has also been stated that affective temperaments are the basis of mood disorders. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in FMF patients, to determine the dominant temperament type, and to compare the findings with the healthy control group.
 Method: 73 patients with FMF and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals without any systemic disease were included in the study. The hospital anxiety and depression scale were used to measure depression and anxiety, and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego –Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) temperament scale was used to determine the temperament type.
 Results: The number of cases diagnosed with anxiety was 33 (45.2%) in the patient group and 5 (16.6%) in the control group; The number of cases diagnosed with depression was 23 (31.5%) in the patient group and 2 (6.6%) in the control group, and both were also found to be statistically significantly higher. (P values p=0.02 and p=0.002, respectively)
 No statistically significant correlation was found between gender, age, disease duration, regular use of treatment, presence of gene mutation and attack type, and anxiety and depression scores.
 According to the TEMPS-A temperament scale, the percentage of patients diagnosed with depressive temperament (20.5%) was higher than the control group (3.3%), and the difference was statistically significant. (p=0.02).
 Conclusion: When the clinical picture in FMF patients becomes complicated with anxiety or depression or in the presence of a temperament predisposed to these conditions, there may be various problems in patients' compliance and response to treatment. FMF patients should be monitored for accompanying anxiety or depression during follow-up.
 Key Words: Anxiety, Depression, Familial Mediterranean Fever, Temperament