Type-D personality is a stable taxonomy in post-MI patients over an 18-month period

Abstract

Objective type-D personality comprises a risk factor for adverse prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, concerns that type-D personality may not be a stable personality taxonomy and that progression of CVD may contribute to the manifestation of type-D personality have been voiced. The present study examined the stability of type-D personality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and evaluated the influence of demographic and clinical risk factors and mood status on the stability of type-D personality during the course of 18 months. Methods Patients hospitalized for acute MI ( N=475) were assessed on demographic and clinical variables, type-D personality, depression, and anxiety at three time points, using both self-report measures and diagnostic interviews. Longitudinal hierarchical latent class regression models were used to examine the stability of type-D personality and the influence of potential confounders. Results type-D personality was a stable construct. Multivariate analysis showed that demographic and clinical characteristics, time ( P=.11), and intraindividual variability in depressive ( P=.19) and anxiety ( P=.18) symptoms over time did not affect type-D status. The mean levels of depressive ( P=.05) and anxiety ( P<.0001) symptoms within a subject over time were significantly related to type-D status. Conclusion type-D personality is a stable taxonomy over an 18-month period in post-MI patients. type-D classification was not confounded by variability in mood status and by disease severity. These findings support the importance of including personality variables in cardiovascular research and the need for intervention trials targeting this personality taxonomy in order to enhance secondary prevention in CVD patients.