Temperament And Character Inventory Dimensions Research Articles

Psycho-Cognitive Profile and NGF and BDNF Levels in Tears and Serum: A Pilot Study in Patients with Graves’ Disease

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) mature/precursor imbalance in tears and serum is suggested as a risk factor and symptomatology aggravation in ophthalmology and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Cognitive and mood alterations are reported by patients with Graves' Orbitopathy (GO), indicating neurotrophin alterations might be involved. To address this question, the expression levels of NGF and BDNF and their precursors in serum and tears of GO patients were analyzed and correlated with the ophthalmological and psycho-cognitive symptoms. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) test were used as a score. NGF and BDNF levels were measured using ELISA and Western Blot and statistically analyzed for psychiatric/ocular variable trend association. GO patients show memorization time and level of distraction increase, together with high irritability and impulsiveness. HAM-A and CANTAB variables association, and some TCI dimensions are also found. NGF and BDNF expression correlates with ophthalmological symptoms only in tears, while mature/precursor NGF and BDNF correlate with the specific psycho-cognitive variables both in tears and serum. Our study is the first to show that changes in NGF and BDNF processing in tears and serum might profile ocular and cognitive alterations in patients.

Cloninger’in Mizaç ve Karakter Boyutları’nın Depresyon Tedavisi ile İlişkisi

Objective: The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) dimensions and treatment response in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients.Materials and Methods: 88 patients diagnosed with MDD were included in the study. Patients were given Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and TCI before the treatment. According to the BDI, which was applied 8 weeks after the treatment, the patients were divided into two groups as those who responded to the treatment and those who did not (responders and non-responders).Results: The education level of the patients was statistically higher in the responders. The number of unemployed (92.3%) patients in the non-responders was statistically higher than the number of unemployed (41.3%) patients in the responders. The number of patients with severe depression was statistically significantly higher in the non-responders. The mean harm avoidence score of the patients in the non-responders were found to be statistically higher than in the responders. The mean persistence score of the patients in the responders was found to be statistically higher than the non-responders.Conclusion: Our study shows that some sociodemographic characteristics and TCI dimensions may be associated with early treatment response in MDD patients.

Personality assessment with Temperament and Character Inventory in Parkinson's disease

IntroductionThere is a growing interest in personality evaluation in Parkinson's disease (PD), following observations of specific temperaments in PD patients. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate personality dimensions from the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in a cohort of fluctuating PD patients considered for deep brain stimulation. MethodsFluctuating PD patients from the PREDISTIM cohort were included. Description of TCI dimensions and comparison with a French normative cohort were performed. Pearson correlations between TCI dimensions and motor, behavioral and cognitive variables were investigated. Structural and internal consistency analysis of the TCI were further assessed. ResultsThe 570 PD patients presented significant higher scores in Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and significant lower scores in Self-Transcendence compared to the French normative cohort; only Novelty Seeking scores were not different. Harm Avoidance and Self-directedness scores were correlated with PDQ-39 total, HAMD, HAMA scores, and anxiolytic/antidepressant treatment. Novelty Seeking scores were correlated with impulsivity. Pearson correlations between TCI dimensions, principal component analysis of TCI sub-dimensions and Cronbach's alpha coefficients showed adequate psychometric proprieties. ConclusionThe TCI seems to be an adequate tool to evaluate personality dimensions in PD with good structural and internal consistencies. These fluctuating PD patients also have specific personality dimensions compared to normative French population. Moreover, Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness scores are associated with anxio-depressive state or quality of life and, and Novelty Seeking scores with impulsivity.

Temperament and character dimensions as psychological markers of mood disorders in Polish adolescents and young adults-A prospective study.

An increasing incidence of mood disorders in adolescents and young adults is being observed. The assessment of personality traits seems to be an interesting tool in identifying early markers of major depression (MD) or bipolar disorder (BD) as well as predictors of the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare the personality profiles in young patients with MD and BD in acute and remitted mood states. Seventy-nine adolescents and young adults with mood disorder diagnoses (MD or BD) were included in the study. The participants were assessed based on structured diagnostic interviews and completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The clinical evaluation was conducted during the acute episodes and after reaching the stabilized mood in the course of follow-up visits in a 2-year study observation. At baseline, MD patients had higher scores on the harm avoidance (HA) with more pronounced anticipatory worry and fatigability subscale than BD patients. Conversely, BD patients reached higher scores in the total self-directedness (SD) character dimension and its sub-dimensions. MD patients with acute depressive symptoms had higher scores in the HA dimension and its subscale: anticipatory worry, shyness, and fatigability compared with their euthymic states. No significant differences in TCI dimensions between baseline and euthymia in the BD subgroup were found, and no differences between euthymic MD and BD patients. Higher ST and SD sub-dimensions may constitute a personality profile specific to BD, while high HA seems to be related to major depression in both acute and remitted states in young patients.

Validation of a Personality Assessment Tool (TCI-R) in a Cross-cultural Sample of Young Managers

We propose a positive psychology approach to the assessment of personality in young international managers using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R) that is based on Cloninger's biopsychosocial model. In the present study, we first aimed at examining whether there were systematic differences in personality traits as measured by the TCI-R, between international young managers and the population that has until now been used as normative US population. Secondly, we aimed at psychometrically validate the TCI-R in a cross-cultural population of young managers so to provide more appropriate normative data for personality assessment. Methods: 442 MBA students of an international business school in Spain completed the TCI-R. Data were collected between 2012 and 2017. Participants were from 58 nationalities, between the age of 25 and 38. For comparative analysis, we analyzed differences between our sample and US population on each TCI-R personality dimension and subscale. For validation, we analyzed gender, age, and cultural differences on TCI-R dimensions and facets, and we assessed factor structure. Results: We found significant differences between our international MBA sample and US normative data for almost all dimensions of personality. The TCI-R showed good psychometric properties in our international sample. The original TCI-R seven-factor structure was confirmed with good data-fitting. Overall, our findings show that the TCI-R is a valid and reliable tool for personality assessment amongst international young leaders. The results of our study offer relevant insights that might be useful for educational purposes, namely MBA programs. In particular, we believe that they could contribute to developing positive leadership competencies.

Temperament and character influence on depression treatment outcome

Background: personality features have been repeatedly associated with depression treatment outcome in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), however conclusive results are still lacking. Moreover, as for Bipolar Disorder (BD), results are only few and preliminary. Aim: the aim of the present study was to perform an exploratory investigation of the influence of personality traits as assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), on principal depression treatment outcomes (non remission, non response and resistance). Methods: 743 mood disorders patients (455 MDD (61.24%) and 288 BD (38.76%)) were recruited in the context of 6 European studies. Generalized logit models were performed to test the effects of TCI dimensions on treatment outcomes, considering possible confounders such as age, gender and education. Positive results were controlled for comorbidities (anxiety and substance use disorders) as well. Results: MDD Non-Remitters showed high Harm Avoidance (HA) and Self Transcendence (ST) (p = 0.0004, d = 0.40; p = 0.007, d = 0.36 respectively) and low Persistence (P) and Self Directedness (SD) (p = 0.05; d = 0.18; p = 0.002, d = 0.40, respectively); MDD Non-Responders showed a slightly different profile with high HA and low Reward Dependence (RD) and SD; finally, MDD Resistants showed low RD, P and Cooperativeness (C). In BD patients, only higher HA in non response was observed. Limitations: the retrospective cross-sectional design, the TCI assessment regardless of the mood state and the small number of bipolar patients represent the main limitations. Conclusion: specific TCI personality traits are associated with depression treatment outcome in MDD patients. The inclusion of such personality traits, together with other socio-demographic and clinical predictors, could ameliorate the accuracy of the prediction models available to date.

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.

Cloninger's Temperament Dimensions and Longitudinal Alcohol Use in Early Midlife: A Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study.

Temperament is theorized to be an important factor contributing to the development of alcohol use disorder, but longitudinal studies on how temperament is related to alcohol use among general population in midlife are scarce. Our aims were to investigate potentially reciprocal associations between temperament and changes in alcohol use from age 31 to 46 using prospective birth cohort data. Within the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, alcohol use and temperament were studied at ages 31 and 46. Participants (N=5,274) were classified into moderate users, abstainers and heavy users based on their mean alcohol use (g/d). Additionally, participants were categorized as steady users, reducers, or increasers. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted with Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) scores as factors influencing alcohol use using moderate and stable users as reference groups. Reciprocity of relations was assessed with cross-lagged structural equationmodeling. Temperament and alcohol use are rather stable in midlife. Novelty seeking (NS) predicted heavy use (OR=1.4; CI: 1.3 to 1.6 for men, OR=1.3; CI: 1.1 to 1.5 for women) and increasing use (OR=1.2; CI: 1.1 to 1.4 for men, OR=1.1; CI: 1.0 to 1.3 for women), whereas low NS predicted abstaining among women (OR=0.7; CI: 0.6 to 0.8). High harm avoidance (HA) predicted abstaining (OR=1.3; CI: 1.1 to 1.5) for men. Low persistence (P) among men predicted both abstaining (OR=0.9; CI: 0.7 to 0.98) and heavy use (OR=0.9; CI: 0.8 to 0.98). Among women, low reward dependence (RD) predicted heavy use (OR=0.8; CI: 0.7 to 0.9). Among TCI scores, only NS predicted increasing use in the cross-lagged models. Temperament has an impact on alcohol use in midlife. Of the TCI dimensions, only NS seems to predispose to increased alcohol use and problem use throughout life. Additionally, RD among women and P among men are significant factors from a life-course perspective. Our results did not support Cloninger's theory on type I alcoholism, as HA showed no relation to problematic alcohol use in midlife.

A case-control study on the temperament and Psychological mood of patients with chronic Hepatitis B

Introduction:To evaluate the personality and temperament traits in patients with chronic hepatitis B in comparison to healthy subjects and to determine whether there is a relation between personality trait and level of anxiety or depression.Material and Methods:This was a case-control study in which 67 patients who had been under follow-up with diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and 103 aged-matched healthy subjects were included. Study participants were asked to complete three self-report questionnaires— Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to define personality traits, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to evaluate presence and severity of depression and anxiety.Results:Total and sub-scale scores of five out of seven dimensions of TCI—reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcence—were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 2. Total BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 2 .Significantly more patients had a BDI score of 17 or over in Group 1 than Group 2. There was no significant correlation between total scores of TCI dimensions and total BAI or BDI scores except weak correlations between harm avoidance or self-directedness and total BAI or BDI scores.Conclusions:In terms of personality trait, patients with chronic hepatitis B exhibit higher reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence from healthy population. The personality traits of patients should be considered during the management of hepatitis B in order to optimize treatment outcome and to prevent development of new mental health problems during the course of the disease.

Temperament and character profile of college students who have suicidal ideas or have attempted suicide

ObjectiveSuicide is a major cause of death in university students. Personality traits have been suggested as possible risk factors for suicidal behaviors. This study looked at the relationship between the personality dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and suicidal behaviors. MethodA total of 5644 college students took the TCI test and the suicidality module of the M.I.N.I. The students were divided into the suicidal ideation group (n = 302; 5.4%) and the suicide attempt group (n = 301; 5.3%). Each group's TCI dimension and sub-dimension scores were compared with one another. To find out which TCI dimension affects suicide risk when depressed, regression analysis and mediation analysis were conducted. ResultsFirst, we adjusted for age, sex and depressive mood and compared the TCI scores of the participants based on their suicide risk. After the adjustment, self-directedness decreased in the suicidal ideation group while novelty seeking and persistence increased in the suicide attempt group. It turned out that self-directedness has a partial mediating effect between depressive symptom and suicide risk (β = −0.068 P < 0.001). ConclusionWe adjusted for depressive mood and it turned out that the suicidal ideation group is affected by character whereas the suicide attempt group is affected by temperament. Among the character dimensions, self-directedness was found to reduce the effect of depressive mood on suicide risk. Therefore, when evaluating suicide risk, assessing character dimensions, especially self-directedness along with depressive mood, a risk factor, will be helpful.

No Association between the Polymorphism rs6943555 in the AUTS2 Gene and Personality Traits in Japanese University Students.

ObjectiveThe autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders. Several recent studies have revealed that the polymorphism rs6943555 in the AUTS2 gene is broadly associated with human mental function and behavior. Therefore, in the present study we investigated whether the polymorphism rs6943555 is associated with human personality traits in Japanese university students. In addition, our previous study reported that the AUTS2 rs6943555-rs9886351 haplotype is associated with alcohol dependence. As a preliminary analysis, we also examined whether the AUTS2 haplotypes are related to personality traits.MethodsAfter written informed consent had been obtained from the participants, two AUTS2 polymorphisms were analyzed, and personality was assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 190 university students. In addition, in order to exclude the influence of the results for students with mental health problems, we gave the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to all subjects.ResultsIn all the subjects, there was a main effect of the polymorphism rs6943555 genotype on reward dependence (p=0.038) and cooperativeness (p=0.031), although the significance was lost on Bonferroni correction. Similarly, on analysis that excluded the subjects with PHQ-9 scores≥10, no significant association with any TCI dimension score among the rs6943555 genotypes was seen. There was no effect of the rs6943555-rs9886351 haplotypes on the TCI dimension scores.ConclusionThis study suggests that the polymorphism AUTS2 rs6943555 is not associated with personality traits. Further large-scale studies with more subjects using other self-report questionnaires are needed.

Personality and trait aggression profiles of male and female prison inmates

Gender specific personality profiles in association with the level of aggressive antisocial behavior in offenders have not been previously investigated. In the present study we analyzed data collected from 65 male and 50 female offenders using structured protocols regarding criminal history (by criminal register data), trait aggression (by the Life History of Aggression (LHA) questionnaire), and personality profiles (by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI)). Prison inmates differed significantly on several personality dimensions, most pronouncedly were they characterized with low character maturity (low scores in the Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness dimensions of TCI) when compared to gender and age matched controls of the general population. The majority of offenders scored distinctively high on trait aggression. There were moderate to strong associations between the personality dimensions and each of the subscales of LHA (Aggression, Self-directed Aggression and Antisocial behavior). These associations were stronger in the female offender sample. Trait aggression could be best explained by a model, which included male gender, younger age, high novelty seeking temperament and low character maturity. Our results suggest that therapies aiming at strengthening self-governance and increasing cooperativeness (focusing on character maturity) may alleviate aggressive antisocial behavior in offenders.

Depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between temperament and character and psychotic-like experiences in healthy subjects.

In this study we examined the hypothesis that depression and anxiety may mediate the relationship between personality traits and both positive and negative psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in healthy adults. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) scale, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered to 492 healthy individuals. Multiple stepwise regression and mediation analyses were performed to examine whether depressive and anxiety symptoms influence the relationship between the TCI dimensions and positive and negative PLEs. Self-transcendence, persistence, novelty-seeking and self-directedness significantly predicted positive PLEs; self-directedness and harm avoidance were predictable for negative PLEs. Self-transcendence, self-directedness, persistence and harm avoidance also predicted the distress caused by positive PLEs, whereas self-directedness and harm avoidance predicted distress raised by negative PLEs. Depressive symptoms and the state of anxiety partially mediated the linkage between self-directedness and positive PLEs, and between self-directedness, harm avoidance and negative PLEs. Our findings confirm that the personality pattern influences both positive and negative PLEs as well as distress caused by experiencing positive and negative PLEs, and they indicate that certain personality traits may influence the development of PLEs via the emotional pathway of heightened depression and anxiety.

Personality traits as an endophenotype in genetic studies on suicidality in bipolar disorder.

In the study we included 156 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder (BP) and 93 healthy controls. The personality dimensions were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). We genotyped two selected polymorphisms of the tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) gene (rs1800532 218A>C and rs1799913 779A>C) and polymorphism in the promoter region of serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR, rs25531) related to serotoninergic neurotransmission. Multiple poisson regression, logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied. We found numerous differences between the BP patients and the control group in terms of their TCI dimensions/subdimensions. Significant differences were found between patients with, and without, suicidal attempts in fatigability and asthenia (Ha4), as well as in harm avoidance (Ha). We also found that the interactions between TCI subdimensions (the interaction of disordiness (Ns4) and spiritual acceptance (St3), disordiness (Ns4) and integrated conscience (C5), extravagance (Ns3) and resourcefulness (Sd3)) were significantly contributing for suicidal behaviour risk. We found association between all studied genetic polymorphisms and several TCI dimensions and subdimensions. Our results confirm that personality traits are partially determined by genes. Both personality traits and the interactions between temperament and character traits, may be helpful in predicting suicidal behaviour.

Personality Traits and Comorbidity in Adults With ADHD

Objective: To assess personality traits using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in a group of 63 previously diagnosed ADHD patients and 68 population controls and investigate the impact of common comorbid psychiatric disorders on these personality measures. Method: Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus and personality traits by the TCI. Results: The patient group had significantly higher scores on the TCI dimensions Harm avoidance and Novelty seeking compared with the control group. However, when adjusting for comorbid anxiety and depressive disorder, the ADHD group no longer showed higher Harm avoidance than the control group. The difference in Novelty seeking between the patient and control groups was correlated with lifetime diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Conclusion: It is important to take comorbid psychiatric disorders into account while investigating personality traits in ADHD.

Use of the Temperament and Character Inventory to Predict Response to Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depression

The goal of this study was to investigate the utility of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in predicting antidepressant response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Although rTMS of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is an established antidepressant treatment, little is known about predictors of response. The TCI measures multiple personality dimensions (harm avoidance, novelty seeking, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, self-transcendence, and cooperativeness), some of which have predicted response to pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. A previous study suggested a possible association between self-directedness and response to rTMS in melancholic depression, although this was limited by the fact that melancholic depression is associated with a limited range of TCI profiles. Nineteen patients with a major depressive episode completed the TCI before a clinical course of rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Treatment response was defined as ≥50% decrease in scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D). Baseline scores on each TCI dimension were compared between responders and nonresponders through analysis of variance. Pearson correlations were also calculated for temperament/character scores in comparison with percentage improvement in Ham-D scores. Eleven of the 19 patients responded to rTMS. T-scores for persistence were significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (P=0.022). Linear regression revealed a correlation between persistence scores and percentage improvement in Ham-D scores. Higher persistence scores predicted antidepressant response to rTMS. This may be explained by rTMS-induced enhancement of cortical excitability, which has been found to be decreased in patients with high persistence. Personality assessment that includes measurement of TCI persistence may be a useful component of precision medicine initiatives in rTMS for depression.

The revised Temperament and Character Inventory: normative data by sex and age from a Spanish normal randomized sample.

Objectives. The psychometric properties regarding sex and age for the revised version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R) and its derived short version, the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140), were evaluated with a randomized sample from the community.Methods. A randomized sample of 367 normal adult subjects from a Spanish municipality, who were representative of the general population based on sex and age, participated in the current study. Descriptive statistics and internal consistency according to α coefficient were obtained for all of the dimensions and facets. T-tests and univariate analyses of variance, followed by Bonferroni tests, were conducted to compare the distributions of the TCI-R dimension scores by age and sex.Results. On both the TCI-R and TCI-140, women had higher scores for Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness than men, whereas men had higher scores for Persistence. Age correlated negatively with Novelty Seeking, Reward Dependence and Cooperativeness and positively with Harm Avoidance and Self-transcendence. Young subjects between 18 and 35 years had higher scores than older subjects in NS and RD. Subjects between 51 and 77 years scored higher in both HA and ST. The alphas for the dimensions were between 0.74 and 0.87 for the TCI-R and between 0.63 and 0.83 for the TCI-140.Conclusion. Results, which were obtained with a randomized sample, suggest that there are specific distributions of personality traits by sex and age. Overall, both the TCI-R and the abbreviated TCI-140 were reliable in the ‘good-to-excellent’ range. A strength of the current study is the representativeness of the sample.

The temperament and character personality profile of the glaucoma patient.

BackgroundTo determine the temperament and character profile of glaucoma patients.MethodsA total of 234 patients (104 with primary open angle glaucoma, and 130 control subjects without any ocular disease) were selected for this prospective, cross-sectional study. All the participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including the best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, gonioscopy, and visual field analysis. All the participants were given the Turkish version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The TCI is a self-reported evaluate, with 240 true/false items measuring four domains of temperament; harm avoidance (HA), persistence (PS), novelty seeking (NS), reward dependence (RD), and three domains of character; self-transcendence (ST), cooperativeness (C), self-directedness (SD).ResultsThe glaucoma patients achieved the higher scores than the controls for the HA and SD dimensions (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033). The glaucoma patients scored lower than the controls for the NS, P and ST dimensions (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). There were no differences in the RD and C scores between the patients and the controls (p = 0.944 and p = 0.343). There was no correlation between the duration of illness and the TCI dimensions. Disease severity was positively associated with HA (r = 0,220, p = 0,025) and the anticipatory worry (r = 0.227, p = 0.021) dimension.ConclusionsGlaucoma patients had a different personality profile to healthy individuals. This may affect treatment compliance and is also important when coping with maladaptive patient attitudes.

The relationship between temperament and character and psychotic-like experiences in healthy children and adolescents

BackgroundPrior work by our group identified personality profiles associated with psychotic-like experiences (PLE's) in healthy adults that were strikingly similar to those found in schizophrenia patients, with the exception of two key differences. Specifically, higher levels of PLE's were linked to higher persistence and cooperativeness, suggesting that these characteristics might represent personality-based resilience factors. Notably, age and personality were significantly correlated in these data, raising questions about whether healthy children and adolescents would show similar results. To date, no study has examined personality profiles associated with both positive and negative PLE's in healthy children and adolescents using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Thus, this study examined the relationship between TCI dimensions and PLE's in healthy children and adolescents. MethodThe TCI and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) were administered to 123 healthy children and adolescents aged 8–18. Multiple regression models were used to examine personality dimensions associated with overall severity of PLE's as well as severity of positive and negative PLE's separately. ResultsPositive, negative, and overall PLE severity were all associated with a personality pattern of higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness. Negative PLE severity was also associated with lower persistence. ConclusionsPersonality correlates of PLE's in healthy children and adolescents were largely consistent with our past work on PLE's in healthy adults. However, our previously identified resilience factors were notably absent in this sample. These findings may suggest that these personality characteristics have not yet crystallized or emerged to aid in coping with PLE's.

Auditory change-related cerebral responses and personality traits

The rapid detection of changes in sensory information is an essential process for survival. Individual humans are thought to have their own intrinsic preattentive responsiveness to sensory changes. Here we sought to determine the relationship between auditory change-related responses and personality traits, using event-related potentials. A change-related response peaking at approximately 120ms (Change-N1) was elicited by an abrupt decrease in sound pressure (10dB) from the baseline (60dB) of a continuous sound. Sixty-three healthy volunteers (14 females and 49 males) were recruited and were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for personality traits. We investigated the relationship between Change-N1 values (amplitude and latency) and each TCI dimension. The Change-N1 amplitude was positively correlated with harm avoidance scores and negatively correlated with the self-directedness scores, but not with other TCI dimensions. Since these two TCI dimensions are associated with anxiety disorders and depression, it is possible that the change-related response is affected by personality traits, particularly anxiety- or depression-related traits.