Lower Self-directedness Scores Research Articles

Differences in temperament and character inventory (TCI) profile between suicidal and nonsuicidal psychiatric outpatients.

The purpose of this study was to identify personality traits associated with suicide attempt in a clinical sample. Temperament and character inventory (TCI) profiles of 759 patients who met the inclusion criteria among 1000 randomly selected hospital records collected. Of these 759 patients, 103 had a history of at least 1 actual suicide attempt (suicidal group) whereas 656 had no such history (nonsuicidal group). The suicidal group showed higher scores of novelty seeking (mean ± SD: 36.1 ± 1.2 vs 33.3 ± 0.5; P = .026) and harm avoidance (57.1 ± 1.5 vs 53.0 ± 0.6; P = .01) but lower scores of self-directedness (27.5 ± 1.5 vs 34.4 ± 0.6; P < .001) than the nonsuicidal group. Higher novelty seeking (OR [95% CI]: 1.031 [1.008–1.054]; P = .007) and lower self-directedness: 0.955 [0.927–0.983]; P = .002 were also associated with suicide attempts in the analysis of 7 personality scales. These findings suggest that patients who attempt suicide differ from nonattempters in terms of personality traits, especially in novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA), and self-directedness (SD). It is noteworthy that this study contains data from actual visits to the emergency room to evaluate suicide attempts.Abbreviations: CO = cooperativeness, Ha = harm avoidance, NS = novelty seeking, PS = persistence, RD = reward dependence, SD = self-directedness, ST = self-transcendence, TCI = temperament and character inventory.

Temperament and Personality Traits in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Considering the psychobiological aspects of various dermatological diseases and the role of personality traits in the development of chronic skin diseases such as chronic urticaria, the present study aimed to assess the personality traits of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) compared to healthy individuals. Methods: In this cross-sectional study during 2016 - 2018, all patients with CSU who referred to Immunology and Allergy Clinic of Ghaem hospital, the Center of reference and excellence in urticaria (UCARE), considered as research community; 100 patients with CSU were selected using the convenience sampling method. Moreover, 100 healthy participants were selected as the control group. Research instruments were Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and a demographic checklist. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi-square test using SPSS Software version 23. Results: The patients had higher scores in novelty-seeking (P = 0.041) and harm avoidance (P = 0.015), while the healthy individuals had higher scores in self-directedness (P = 0.003) and cooperativeness (P = 0.001). Moreover, male patients had higher scores in novelty-seeking (P = 0.006) and reward dependence (P = 0.013); however, female patients had higher scores in self-transcendence (P = 0.001) and cooperativeness (P = 0.019). Furthermore, there was a correlation between the disease duration of with reward dependence, self-directedness, and self-transcendence. Conclusions: Personality traits seem to be associated with CSU. In this regard, patients with CSU had higher scores in novelty-seeking and harm avoidance and lower scores in self-directedness and cooperativeness than healthy individuals.

Predictors of social anxiety disorder with major depressive episodes among Japanese university students.

BackgroundSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) develops in the early teens and is a common disorder among university students. Understanding the predictive factors of SAD comorbid with major depressive episode (MDE) is important for student mental health care. The aim of this study was to identify the personality traits that predict SAD with MDE by analyzing longitudinal data of Japanese university students.MethodsIn this retrospective study, Japanese university students who visited the health care center of Hokkaido University for the first time were divided into the following four groups: “Control” (n = 43), “MDE” (n = 16), “SAD” (n = 28), and “SAD with MDE” (n = 61) based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and core anxiety symptoms for SAD in the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview during screening. Predictors for SAD with MDE were identified by a four-group comparison of the Temperament and Character Inventory and PHQ-9 data previously obtained at the enrollment using analysis of variance and post-hoc tests.ResultsUpon comparing the four groups using analysis of variance, there were significant differences in the baseline PHQ-9 summary score, Harm-Avoidance (HA), and Self-Directedness (SD). According to results of the post-hoc test, all three showed a significant difference between the “Control” and “SAD with MDE.” Furthermore, there was a significant difference in HA scores between “SAD” and “Control.” In all the groups, the mean time from enrollment to the first visit to the center was >2 years.ConclusionA higher HA score at baseline is a predictor of SAD with or without MDE. Higher PHQ-9 summary and lower SD scores at baseline are predictive factors of SAD with MDE.

Effects of personality on the developmental trajectories of academic burnout among Korean medical students.

BackgroundMedical students have a high risk of burnout from tremendous academic stress, and previous cross-sectional studies have explained this risk from the personality perspective. However, the relationship between complex personality profiles and developmental trajectory of burnout has not been delineated yet.MethodsThe longitudinal changes in burnout were measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) at baseline (1st week), mid-term (9th week), and end-term (17th week), and personality was examined at baseline using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Latent trajectory groups based on the MBI-SS total scores were extracted using the General Growth Mixture Model (GGMM), and significant differences in personality profiles among the latent groups were identified using profile analysis and Analysis of Variance.ResultsThree burnout trajectory groups of high-increasing (HI), moderate-increasing (MI), and low-stable (LS) were identified, and these groups had significantly different TCI subscale profiles. The HI group had the highest score in Harm-Avoidance (HA) and lowest score in Self-Directedness (SD), and the MI group had a higher score in HA and lower scores in SD and Cooperativeness (CO) when compared to the LS group with the lowest score in HA and highest scores in SD and CO.ConclusionThe current study showed that the HA, SD, and CO subscales of the TCI might explain the longitudinal development of academic burnout in medical students. Prevention of burnout and promotion of well-being in medical education concerning personality are discussed.

Psychiatric comorbidity and temperament-character traits of the patients with lichen simplex chronicus: The relation with the symptom severity of the disease.

The aim of this study is to evaluate psychiatric comorbidity, temperament and character traits, depression and anxiety levels, and their relation with symptom severity in patients with lichen simplex chronicus (LSC). About 50 patients with LSC were enrolled in the study along with 49 controls. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to all subjects for psychiatric assessment. Skindex-16 symptom scale was performed for assessing the symptom severity of LSC. LSC group were showing an incidence of 62% in terms of psychiatric comorbidity and 14% of them had two psychiatric diagnoses. The most common psychiatric disorders were major depressive disorder (32%), dysthymia (18%), and generalized anxiety disorder (12%). LSC group had significantly higher mean BDI (18.60 ± 11.77 vs 7.40 ± 4.90) and BAI scores (18.56 ± 13.75 vs 5.18 ± 5.34) than the control group. Patients with LSC displayed higher scores in Harm Avoidance Dimension (19.74 ± 5.18 vs 15.00 ± 5.13) of temperament and regarding character dimensions, they had lower scores in self-directedness (25.52 ± 6.69 vs 29.51 ± 5.54). When analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed while BDI and BAI scores were taken as covariates cooperativeness became significantly higher in the LSC group. Patients with LSC had a high incidence of psychiatric comorbidity, significantly higher depression and anxiety levels, and differed from control group in terms of TCI profile and these conditions were related to symptom severity of the LSC. Comorbid psychiatric conditions and personality traits should be considered as crucial factors for the effective treatment of LSC.

The personality profile of chronic alcohol dependent patients with comorbid gambling disorder symptoms

Background and aimsThe importance of personality characteristics in the diagnosis and treatment of gambling disorder (GD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often highlighted in scientific literature. This study aimed to test predictions about the associations of temperament and character in chronic AUD patients with comorbid GD symptoms and without them. MethodsChronic AUD patients enrolled from an inpatient clinic were divided in two groups based on cluster analysis, AUD patients with (AUD + GD group: n = 30) and without (AUD group: n = 68) GD symptoms. Severity of GD symptoms and personality dimensions (Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory Revised, TCI-R) were assessed. Associations of tested variables were analysed with analysis of covariance, one-sample and independent sample t-tests. ResultsGD symptoms proved to be a clustering factor in terms of personality, where AUD + GD group expressed a more maladaptive personality profile. Compared to Hungarian normative TCI-R scores, both patient groups showed elevated levels of Harm Avoidance and Novelty Seeking with lower scores of Self-directedness, while the AUD + GD group scored lower on Persistence and Cooperation as well. The AUD + GD group reported significantly higher levels of Harm Avoidance, with lower scores of Reward Dependence compared to the AUD group. DiscussionComorbid GD symptom severity is an important factor in chronic AUD, where AUD patients with comorbid GD symptoms exhibited a more maladaptive personality constellation than singular AUD patients. These emphasize the need of special attention for comorbid GD symptoms in AUD, since treatment recommendations and prognosis for them may also differ.

Effects of personality on the association between paroxetine plasma concentration and response.

BackgroundWe studied the differences between groups that were divided according to personality characteristics with respect to the relationship between drug concentration and symptom improvement.MethodsA total of 120 patients with major depressive disorder were treated with paroxetine for 6 weeks, and 89 patients completed the protocol. The Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was used to evaluate the patients. Patients’ paroxetine plasma concentrations at week 6 were measured. Their personalities were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) at the first visit. We divided the patients into two groups according to the median of each TCI dimension. We compared the responder rate between “high” and “low” groups in each TCI dimension and analyzed Pearson’s correlation coefficients of paroxetine plasma concentration and MADRS-improvement rate.ResultsA total of 62 patients completed the TCI. Low-novelty-seeking, high-harm-avoidance, low-reward-dependence, and low-self-directedness groups exhibited significant negative correlations between paroxetine plasma concentration and MADRS improvement. Among the groups with combined personality traits, the high-harm-avoidance and low-self-directedness groups showed a markedly significant negative correlation.ConclusionPatients with depression exhibiting specific personality traits, especially those with high harm-avoidance and low self-directedness scores, exhibited a significant negative association between paroxetine plasma concentration and MADRS-improvement rate. Therefore, a lower dose might be suitable for patients with specific personality traits.

Prediction of major depressive episodes and suicide-related ideation over a 3-year interval among Japanese undergraduates.

BackgroundSuicide has been a leading cause of death among young adult populations in Japan. The aim of this study was to predict major depressive episodes (MDEs) and suicide-related ideation among university students using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).MethodsThe subjects were 2194 university students who completed the PHQ-9 and TCI in the 1st year (T1) and the PHQ-9 in the 4th year (T2) of university. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to predict MDEs and suicide-related ideation at T2. Moreover, recursive partitioning analyses were conducted to reveal the future risk of MDEs and suicide-related ideation.ResultsThe multiple logistic regression analyses of MDEs and suicide-related ideation at T2 revealed that depressive episodes, suicide-related ideation, and low self-directedness(SD) scores at T1 were significant predictors. The area under the curve of the model for MDEs was 0.858 and that for suicide-related ideation was 0.741. The recursive partitioning analyses revealed that a PHQ-9 summary score ≥15 at T1 predicted a high risk of MDEs at T2 and that both a PHQ-9 summary score ≥5 and a PHQ-9 #9 score ≥1 predicted a high risk of suicide-related ideation at T2.ConclusionsMDEs, suicide-related ideation, and low SD scores are significant predictors of future MDEs and suicide-related ideation.

Paresthesia frequency in fibromyalgia and its effects on personality traits.

Paresthesia and personality disorders are common conditions among patients with fibromyalgia. However, no previous study has examined a possible relation of paresthesia with personality traits in fibromyalgia. This study investigates the frequency of paresthesia in fibromyalgia patients and its relation with personality traits. Female patients with fibromyalgia (n=101) were divided into two groups according to the presence (n=49; mean age 40.63±7.62years; range 23-55years) or absence (n=52; mean age 40.50±7.12years; range 27-53years) of paresthesia. Also, a healthy control group (n=53; mean age 39.34±5.26years; range 23-55years) was included. The groups were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory. Accordingly, temperament includes four dimensions: harm avoidance, novelty seeking, persistence, reward dependence; and character consists of three dimensions: cooperativeness, self-transcendence, self-directedness. There were no significant differences among the three groups in the scores of novelty seeking, persistence, reward dependence and cooperativeness (for all P>0.05). Both fibromyalgia groups had significantly higher scores in harm avoidance and had lower scores in self-directedness compared to the control group (P<0.001). Also, fibromyalgia patients with paresthesia had significantly higher harm avoidance and self-directedness scores than those in patients without paresthesia (P<0.001). In both fibromyalgia groups, self-transcendence scores were similar (P=0.465) but significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.001). This is the first study evaluating the association of paresthesia and personality traits in fibromyalgia. These results suggest that psychological distress associated with high harm avoidance and low self-directedness scores are more prominent in fibromyalgia patients, and especially of those who have paresthesia.

Temperament and character traits in major depressive disorder: a case control study.

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have distinct personality traits, compared with control subjects, although the role of anxiety and positive and negative affects in this finding is unclear. A case-control study enrolling 103 antidepressant-free depressed patients and 103 age and gender-matched controls was conducted at the University Hospital, University of São Paulo. The self-reported scales of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were applied. Temperament and character traits were compared between groups using multivariate and bivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA and ANOVA). The influence of anxiety and affect was further investigated using ANOVA and mediation analyses. Depressed patients presented higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness scores than controls. After adjustment for anxiety trait, harm avoidance was no longer significantly different between groups. Mediation analysis revealed that the anxiety trait, but not state-anxiety or affect, fully mediated the influence of group (depressed versus control subjects) on harm avoidance. Our findings confirm that depressed patients present personality traits distinct from those of controls and suggest that MDD is not directly associated with harm avoidance, but that this effect is fully mediated through the anxiety trait.

Maternal and paternal personality profiles of adolescent suicide attempters

Personality features have been correlated with suicidal behaviors in recent decades. Given its neurobiological background, Cloninger's model of personality, the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), may help to identify the maternal and paternal personality dimensions associated with adolescent suicide attempts. The present study is the first that specifically compares the temperament and character profiles of both mothers and fathers of the adolescent suicide attempters with a control group, by considering the influence of demographic and clinical factors. The study group comprised 117 parents of 71 adolescent suicide attempters and 119 parents of 71 age- and gender-matched adolescents without a suicide attempt included as a control group. The TCI and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were applied to the parents in both groups. Logistic regression analysis, which was performed to adjust confounding factors, demonstrated significantly higher scores for harm avoidance among the mothers and lower scores of self-directedness among the fathers of the adolescent suicide attempters. New psychotherapeutic modalities considering the high-risk parental personality traits would be beneficial to support parent-adolescent relationships and may have a preventative effect on adolescent suicide.

Weak self-directed learning skills hamper performance in cumulative assessment

Background: Self-regulated learning is an important determinant of academic performance. Previous research has shown that cumulative assessment encourages students to work harder and improve their results. However, not all students seem to respond as intended. We investigated the influence of students’ behavioral traits on their responsiveness to a cumulative assessment strategy.Method: The cumulative test results of a third-year integrated ten-week course unit were analyzed. The test was divided into three parts delivered at 4, 8 and 10 weeks. Low starters (below median) with low or high improvement (below or above the median) were identified and compared regarding their behavioral traits (assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory questionnaire).Results: A total of 295 students filled out the questionnaire. A percentage of 70% of the students below the median on the first two test parts improved during the final part. Students who were less responsive to improve their test results, scored low only on the TCI scale “self directedness” (t = 2.49; p = 0.011).Conclusion: Behavioral traits appear to influence student reactions to feedback on test results, with students with low self-directedness scores being particularly at risk. They can thus be identified and should receive special attention from student counselors.

Pain and Personality: Do Individuals with Different Forms of Chronic Pain Exhibit a Mutual Personality?

The role of personality in the experience of chronic pain is a growing field, with endless debate regarding the existence of a "pain personality". This study aims to compare different chronic pain types and consolidate the existence of a common personality. Thirty-two females with chronic orofacial pain and 37 age-matched healthy females were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Chronic pain subjects had either trigeminal neuropathy (neuropathic pain) or temporomandibular disorders (nociceptive pain). This study revealed that individuals with different chronic pain types exhibit a mutual personality profile encompassing significantly higher scores in Harm Avoidance and significantly lower scores in Self-Directedness when compared to healthy subjects. In fact, this combination is associated with Cluster C personality disorders. In conclusion, our study reveals that irrespective of type, chronic pain may be associated with Cluster C personality disorders. Indeed, there has never been empirical evidence in the past to suggest that chronic pain as an overall concept is associated with any particular personality disorders. Therefore, a potential future avenue of chronic pain treatment may lie in targeting particular personality aspects and shift the target of pain-relieving treatments from sensory and psychologically state focused to psychologically trait focused.

Personality traits of patients with multiple sclerosis and their relationship with clinical characteristics.

Few studies have investigated personality characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and little is known about the relationship between personality and clinical characteristics in these patients. We aimed to investigate the personality traits of MS patients and their relationship with clinical characteristics. The study population consisted of 74 MS patients and age-matched, sex-matched, and education level-matched healthy controls. All participants were instructed to complete the self-administered 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. The MS patients exhibited higher harm avoidance (HA) and lower self-directedness scores than the control group, although these differences disappeared after controlling for depression. Duration of the disease was positively correlated with HA and negatively correlated with novelty-seeking scores. Expanded Disability Status Scale scores were negatively correlated with reward dependence. Our results suggest a possible relationship between personality characteristics and the stage of the disease or the degree of damage in MS patients.

The role of Dopamine 2 receptor gene and personality characteristics in alcohol dependence in Turkish population

Objective: Focusing on dopaminergic system, which is regarded to be responsible for alcohol dependence in many studies on animals and human beings, it is aimed to investigate TaqI A and B allel polymorphisms of Dopamine 2 receptor and personality characteristics in alcohol dependents and the relationship between these two parameters. Methods: In this study 64 alcohol dependent patients (3 females and 61 males) diagnosed according to DSM-IV diagnosis criteria, and 54 healthy subjects (8 female, 46 male) who themselves or whose first or second degree relatives had no alcohol dependence history were included. In order to determine their TaqI A and B alleles, blood samples were drawn from the participants, and then they were applied Temperament and Character Inventory and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test scales. Results: Subjects with and without alcohol dependence revealed no significant difference as regards the frequency of TaqI A1 and B2 minor allel polymorphisms of DRD2 gene. It was also determined that the alcohol dependents had significantly higher scores in novelty seeking and harm avoidance dimensions, and lower scores in self-directedness and cooperativeness dimensions than the controls. In alcohol dependents, no association was determined between the personality characteristics and TaqI A1 and B2 minor allel polymorphisms. Conclusion: Not only one gene, but also several other minor genes in addition to personality characteristics and environment may play a role in vulnerability to alcohol dependence. In alcohol dependents, high novelty seeking is associated with the increase in impulsive behaviour, and may be important for the onset of alcohol taking behaviour. High level of harm avoidance may lead to taking alcohol continuously in order to deal with stress. Key words:

Temperament and Character Traits in Patients With Epilepsy

Personality and behavioral changes in epilepsy are well documented. However, neither the quantitative characteristics nor the etiology of these changes is clear yet. Cloninger has developed a psychobiological personality model that provides a way to evaluate personality in a dimensional way. This study examined the relationship between epilepsy and Cloninger's dimensional psychobiological personality model. A total of 73 epilepsy outpatients and 79 healthy controls were examined using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Axis I Disorders, the Turkish version of the Temperament and Character Inventory, and an epilepsy questionnaire. Epilepsy patients had higher harm avoidance (HA) and lower persistence, self-directedness (SD), and cooperativeness scores than healthy controls did. In epileptic subjects, there was no correlation between age and duration of epilepsy. Subjects with partial seizures had higher HA scores and lower SD scores than generalized ones. Comorbid depression was represented with lower SD scores. In multiple linear regression models, only major depressive disorder predicted lower scores of SD. This study confirms specific personality changes among epileptics according to Cloninger's dimensional personality model and indicates a relationship between the characteristics of epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidity.

Temperament and character profile of patients with fibromyalgia

Personality may play an important role in the development and initiation of fibromyalgia (FM). It may also be used for individualized treatment planning. We aimed to assess personality profiles of FM patients and to evaluate the association of personality profiles with education, symptom severity, depression, anxiety, and functioning. Forty-two female patients with FM and 48 healthy female controls were enrolled in the study. We assessed personality profiles of FM patients using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to detect the correlation between the TCI and education, symptom severity, depression, anxiety, and functioning. FM patients had significantly higher harm avoidance (HA) and self-transcendence (ST) scores, and lower self-directedness (SD) scores than those in the healthy controls. High HA scores were related to impaired functioning, depression, and anxiety symptoms. A negative correlation has been found between SD scores and depression scores. The study suggests that FM patients have distinctive temperament and character profile compared with healthy controls. FM patients tend to have high HA, high ST, and low SD scores.

Difference in Temperament and Character Inventory scores between depressed patients with bipolar II and unipolar major depressive disorders

Although some core personality variables are known to be characteristic of unipolar or bipolar depression, few studies have compared the personality profile between these two disorders. Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was employed to assess the personality of 36 depressed patients with bipolar II disorder (BPII), 90 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder (UP), and 306 healthy controls. The TCI was administered during the depressive episode in BPII and UP patients so that the results can be applied in a clinical setting. Significantly higher scores in harm avoidance (p<0.0001) and lower scores in self-directedness (p<0.0001) and cooperativeness (p<0.05) were observed in both BPII and UP patients compared to controls. Lower novelty seeking in UP patients compared to BPII patients and controls was observed in females (p<0.0001, p<0.01, respectively). A significant difference in self-transcendence score was observed between BPII and UP patients in females (p<0.0005), with higher scores in BPII (p=0.009) and lower scores in UP (p=0.046) patients compared to controls. A logistic regression model predicted BPII in depressed females based on novelty seeking and self-transcendence scores with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 73%, but did not accurately predict BPII in males. Patients in our study were limited to those receiving outpatient treatments, and bipolar patients were limited to those with BPII. Novelty seeking and self-transcendence scores of TCI might be useful in the differentiation of UP and BPII in female patients.

Misuse of Alcohol During Opiate Substitution Treatment

Although alcohol misuse is a common phenomenon during opiate substitution treatment, the etiologic explanations advanced for it are generally no more than speculative. To identify differences in alexithymia, self-esteem, and temperament among patients undergoing methadone or buprenorphine substitution treatment having excessive alcohol consumption from those who have not. This was an open prospective study conducted from September 2007 to January 2008. The cohort was recruited from 9 drug addiction treatment centers in 2 regions of France, Alsace and Moselle. The study was based on 203 patients on opiate substitution programs whose dosage had been stable for at least 1 month and who had given their consent to take part. The participants completed a series of self-administered questionnaires in the treatment centers: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R). We observed high alexithymia scores, low self-esteem scores, and low self-directedness scores among patients with excessive alcohol consumption. We make some recommendations for new therapeutic approaches.

Smoking and Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory

Cloninger's neuropsychopharmacological theory identifies four temperament traits and three character traits that are largely heritable and are associated with addictions. We tested whether these personality traits were associated with smoking behavior and predicted smoking cessation and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. We conducted an Internet cohort study in 2005-2009. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI, 226 items, French version) was assessed in 2,993 people (1,593 current, 969 former, and 419 never-smokers). Subsets of participants indicated their smoking status after 30 days (n = 1,452, 48.5%) and answered the TCI again and reported tobacco withdrawal symptoms after 61 days (n = 644, 21.5%). Compared with never- and former smokers, daily smokers had higher scores of Harm Avoidance (HA) and lower scores of Persistence and Self-Directedness (SD). Daily smokers had higher scores of Novelty Seeking than never-smokers. In daily smokers, the level of tobacco dependence was associated with higher scores of HA and lower scores of SD. In the 60 daily smokers who had stopped smoking after 61 days, after adjustment for tobacco dependence level and baseline tobacco withdrawal ratings, SD predicted lower scores of depressed mood and anxiety at 61-day follow-up and HA predicted higher scores of depressed mood at 61-day follow-up. Personality ratings did not predict smoking cessation at follow-up in daily smokers or relapse in former smokers. A consistent association was found between smoking and high HA and low SD. Knowledge about these associations may be useful to clinicians to tailor counseling.