Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire Research Articles

Prospective effects of adolescent indicators of behavioral disinhibition on DSM-IV alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug dependence in young adulthood

ObjectiveTo identify robust predictors of drug dependence. MethodsThis longitudinal study included 2361 male and female twins from an ongoing longitudinal study at the Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence (CADD) at the University of Colorado Boulder and Denver campuses. Twins were recruited for the CADD project while they were between the ages of 12 and 18. Participants in the current study were on average approximately 15years of age during the first wave of assessment and approximately 20years of age at the second wave of assessment. The average time between assessments was five years. A structured interview was administered at each assessment to determine patterns of substance use and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; Fourth Edition) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and drug dependence symptoms. Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire was also used to assess novelty seeking tendencies (NS). At the second wave of assessment, DSM-IV dependence symptoms were reassessed using the same interview. Path analyses were used to examine direct and indirect mechanisms linking psychopathology and drug outcomes. ResultsAdolescent substance use, CD, and NS predicted young adult substance dependence, whereas the predictive effects of ADHD were few and inconsistent. Furthermore, CD and NS effects were partially mediated by adolescent substance use. ConclusionsAdolescent conduct problems, novelty seeking, and drug use are important indices of future drug problems. The strongest predictor was novelty seeking.

Additive effects between prematurity and postnatal risk factors of suicidal behavior

BackgroundPre- and perinatal insults increase suicide risk. The main objective of the present study is to investigate if prematurity interacts in an additive fashion with postnatal risk factors of suicidal behavior. MethodSample and procedure: 857 adult suicide attempters consecutively hospitalized for a suicide attempt were included. Studied characteristics of suicide attempts included use of a violent mean, age at first suicide attempt, and number of suicide attempts. Risk factors of suicidal behavior included indexes of pre- and perinatal adversity, childhood maltreatment as measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, personality traits as measured with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, and family history of suicidal behavior. Statistical analyses: Comparisons between the different patterns of suicide attempts characteristics were made using logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. ResultsThe risk of violent suicide attempts increased significantly in patients born prematurely (OR [95%] = 2.38[1.12–5.08]). There were additive effects for very preterm birth and 1) emotional abuse (OR [95% CI] = 4.52 [1.75–11.60]), 2) novelty seeking (OR [95% CI] = 8.92[3.09–25.7]), and 3) harm avoidance (OR [95% CI] = 5.81 [2.43–13.90]) on the age at first suicide attempt, after adjustment for potential confounders. ConclusionsVery preterm birth appears to be the first step in a cascade of stressors across lifetime, which affects the risk and the severity of suicidal behavior. Furthermore, very preterm birth, childhood maltreatment and personality traits have additive effects that influence the age at onset of suicide attempt. Our findings may have potential consequences for preventive policies.

Gender differences in personality and heart-rate variability

Both personality traits and autonomic functioning show as gender differences, but their relationship is not well understood. Medically unexplained symptoms are related to personality features and can be assessed by autonomic measurement. The patterns are hypothesised to identify gender differences. We recruited 30 male and 30 female healthy volunteers. All participants completed the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and heart-rate variability (HRV) measurement. Correlation analysis was performed to identify the relationships between TPQ scores and HRV parameters. For the subjects as a whole, the subdimension harm avoidance 4 (HA4, fatigability and asthenia) was found to be negatively correlated with low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and total power (TP) of HRV. Novelty seeking 1 (NS1, exploratory excitability) was found to be positively correlated with LF power and TP. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the interactions exploratory excitability x gender and fatigability x gender are predictors of LF and HF power, respectively. Our result supports the hypothesis that personality features such as exploratory excitability and fatigability are associated with autonomic functioning and that gender is a moderator in these relationships.

The dopamine transporter gene possibly affects personality traits in patients with early-onset major depressive disorder.

Comorbid personality pathologies may affect the outcome of patients with major depression (MD). The dopamine transporter gene DAT1 (SLC6A3) has been suggested to play a role in both depression and specific personality traits. The aim of this study was to assess five polymorphisms of the DAT1 gene (rs2550948, rs2975226, rs6347, rs27072, and 3'-VNTR) to determine whether this gene influences personality traits in patients with MD or its subgroups. The DAT1 polymorphisms were analysed in 463 unrelated Han Chinese MD patients. The personality traits, novelty seeking (NS), and harm avoidance (HA), were examined using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. The patients were also divided into four clinical subgroups on the basis of differences in their sex (male or female) and age at disease onset (early or late). There was no association between the DAT1 gene and either NS or HA in the total MD sample or in the sex-based subgroups. However, early-onset MD patients with the G/G genotype of rs2550948 and the T/T genotype of rs2975226 had lower NS scores than did patients with the other genotypes (p corrected = 0.05 for rs2550948 and p corrected = 0.005 for rs2975226). Our study suggests that DAT1 promoter variants possibly influence specific personality traits in the early-onset subgroup of depressed patients in the Han Chinese population. Further prospective cohort studies are required to verify our preliminary finding and to confirm the effects of personality susceptibility on long-term disease outcomes.

Decreased cardiac vagal control in drug‐naive patients with panic disorder: A case‐control study in Taiwan

Cardiac autonomic dysregulation has been proposed in panic disorder (PD), but the results are mixed. Analyses with larger sample sizes and better methodology are needed. Forty-eight drug-naïve individuals with PD and 202 healthy volunteers were recruited for a case-control analysis. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety severity. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. The obtained results were evaluated in association with personality traits assessed by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Patients exhibited reduced mean RR interval (816.94 ± 135.92 versus 873.47 ± 143.36 ms, P = 0.014) and HRV levels (Var 6.37 ± 1.32 versus 7.38 ± 0.95, LF 4.90 ± 1.63 versus5.82 ± 1.11 and HF 4.57 ± 1.53 versus 5.62 ± 1.24 [ln(ms2)], all P < 0.001) as compared to controls, which mainly suggested a reduction in cardiac vagal control in PD. The anxiety severity was negatively correlated with HRV levels (r = -0.29 for Var, r = -0.22 for LF and r = -0.28 for HF, all P < 0.001). The harm avoidance score (which has been suggested to be associated with serotonergic activity) was associated with decreased HRV levels (r = -0.22 for Var, P < 0.01, r = -0.14 for LF, P < 0.05 and r = -0.17 for HF, P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that PD is associated with cardiac autonomic dysregulation, highlighting the importance of assessing HRV in PD patients.

Heart rate variability in patients with fully remitted major depressive disorder.

Cardiac autonomic dysregulation has been reported in major depressive disorder (MDD), but scarce studies investigated that in fully remitted MDD. To examine cardiac autonomic function in remitted MDD, 470 unmedicated individuals with a diagnosis of MDD earlier in life and 462 healthy volunteers, aged 18-65 years, were recruited for a case-control analysis. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. The obtained results were evaluated in association with personality traits assessed by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. In patients with remitted MDD, no differences in RR intervals and all frequency-domain indices of HRV could be detected as compared with controls. Stratified analyses by the presence of a history of suicide ideation (the SI+ vs. the SI-subgroup) revealed decreased cardiac vagal control in the SI+ subgroup. The correlation analysis revealed an inverse relation between HRV levels and the harm avoidance score (which has been suggested to be associated with serotonergic activity), mainly attributable to the robust association in the SI+ subgroup. Our study shows that cardiac autonomic dysregulation is not shown in remitted MDD patients as a whole but is limited to the subgroup of remitted MDD patients with a history of suicidal ideation. In view of the higher risk for cardiac complications in these vulnerable individuals, one might consider the treatment to restore their autonomic function.

Decreased Cardiac Vagal Control in Drug-Naïve Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

ObjectiveDecreased cardiac vagal control (CVC) has been proposed in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the results are mixed. Analyses with larger sample sizes and better methodology are needed.MethodsThirty-two drug-naïve survivors with current PTSD, 32 survivors without PTSD and 192 matched controls were recruited for a case-control analysis. We used the PTSD checklist-civilian version (PCL-C) to assess posttraumatic symptoms severity. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. The obtained results were evaluated in association with personality traits assessed by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ).ResultsPTSD patients exhibited decreased LF-HRV and HF-HRV as compared to survivors without PTSD and to matched controls. The PTSD symptoms severity was associated with reduced mean RR intervals, Var-HRV, LF-HRV and HF-HRV. The harm avoidance score (which has been suggested to be associated with serotonergic activity) was negatively correlated with Var-HRV, LF-HRV and HF-HRV.ConclusionThese data suggest that PTSD is accompanied by decreased CVC, highlighting the importance of assessing HRV in PTSD patients. In view of the increased risk for cardiovascular diseases in these vulnerable individuals, one might consider the treatment to restore their autonomic function while reducing PTSD symptoms.

Temperament personality profiles in suicidal behaviour: An investigation of associated demographic, clinical and genetic factors

BackgroundPersonality traits have been suggested as possible risk factors for suicidal behaviours. Cloninger's model of personality (TCI), given its neurobiological background, might provide an ideal tool for the identification of dimensions associated with suicide attempt. MethodsA number of 1333 suicide attempters and 589 non-suicide attempters suffering from different DSM-IV Axis I disorders were assessed using either the temperament and character inventory (TCI) or the tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ), as well as other self-report questionnaires evaluating dimensions associated with suicidal behaviour, such as impulsivity and anger traits. The severity of suicide attempts and the methods used were also assessed. Subjects were genotyped for polymorphisms within the key genes involved in monoaminergic pathways and the HPA axis. ResultsCompared with non-suicide attempters, suicide attempters scored higher for harm avoidance (HA) and novelty seeking (NS), and lower for self-directedness (SD). The difference was independent of Axis I disorders. Higher HA and NS scores were associated with a greater severity of suicidal behaviour. A multivariate model showed that HA was the single temperamental dimension independently related to suicide attempt history, beside impulsivity and anger-related traits. The genetic factors investigated did not play a significant role in modulating these temperamental dimensions. LimitationsThe TCI was available for only half of the sample. ConclusionsEarly detection of subjects displaying high HA and low SD, associated with high impulsivity and poor anger control, may help to prevent suicidal behaviours. Physicians should therefore be aware of these risk factors so that they can offer the best primary care intervention.

Positive and negative affect in individuals with spinal cord injuries

Participants with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and healthy controls completed standardized questionnaires assessing depression level, positive and negative affect, and personality traits. To identify the specific characteristics of emotional experiences affected by spinal cord injury. A Canadian rehabilitation center. Individuals with SCIs were recruited from a list of patients who had volunteered to participate in studies being conducted by the SCI clinic. Healthy controls were recruited from the community, but tested in the SCI clinic. Thirty-six individuals with complete (ASIA A) SCIs and 36 age-, gender- and education-matched controls participated in this study. SCI participants were classified as cervical (C1-C7), upper thoracic (T1-T5) or lower thoracic/upper lumbar (T6-L2). All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules, the NEO Neuroticism Questionnaire, and the harm avoidance scale of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests (when contrasting SCI and controls) and analysis of variance (when comparing across SCI groups). Participants with SCIs experienced significantly less positive affect than controls. The two groups did not differ in their experience of negative affect. Participants with SCIs also reported greater levels of depression. Depression scores improved with an increasing number of years post injury. Individuals with SCIs are characterized by specific emotional dysfunction related to the experience of positive emotions, rather than a tendency to ruminate on negative emotions. The results suggest that these individuals would benefit from rehabilitation programs that include training in positive psychology.

Journal Digest

Journal Digest

Clinical and Temperamental Correlates of Body Image Disturbance in Eating Disorders

Although body image disturbance (BID) is considered a core symptom in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), little is known about its psychopathological correlates. The present study aimed at analysing the correlation of aspects of BID with psychopathological and temperamental characteristics. A sample of 1288 patients (538 AN and 750 BN) were assessed through a structured diagnostic interview, the Eating Disorders Inventory and Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Cognition of body image distortion, weight checking, fear of weight gain and body dissatisfaction were assessed by specific questions during the interview. Various aspects of BID formed similar, but not identical, dimensions in AN and BN. In both groups, anticipatory anxiety and interoceptive awareness were significantly and independently associated with body image distortion, whereas ineffectiveness was associated with weight checking. Body image disturbance is a multidimensional characteristic linked to psychological features, such as anticipatory anxiety, ineffectiveness and interoceptive awareness. These findings have scientific and treatment implications, and should be considered by clinicians in adopting successful treatment strategies.

Personality profile in essential tremor: A case–control study

BackgroundNeuropsychiatric findings described in essential tremor (ET) include depression and anxiety. There may be personality features as well; in 2004, we demonstrated higher harm avoidance (HA) scores in ET patients than controls. We now (1) determined whether this finding could be replicated in a new sample of cases and controls, and (2) analyzed HA sub-scores (HA1−HA4) to further understand case–control differences. Design/Methods60 ET cases and 35 controls were evaluated using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), which assesses three domains of personality: HA, novelty seeking (NS), and reward dependence (RD). ResultsTotal HA and total NS scores were marginally higher in cases than controls (14.8 ± 7.6 vs. 12.4 ± 5.3, p = 0.09) and (13.8 ± 5.4 vs. 11.8 ± 4.9, p = 0.09), respectively. When adjusted for age and gender, cases and controls differed with respect to total HA score (p = 0.03) but not total NS score (p = 0.10). Further analysis of HA sub-scores demonstrated that HA1 (anticipatory worry and pessimism) and HA4 (fatigability and asthenia) were most robustly elevated in cases vs. controls (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). ConclusionsThis study suggests that ET cases have a personality profile characterized by a greater HA, with certain domains of HA most affected. It is unclear whether this personality profile is pre-morbid or is a co-morbid feature of the illness, nor it is known whether the greater tendency towards HA in ET lessens receptivity to deep brain stimulation surgery and other therapies.

Cognitive Task Performance and Frequency of Alcohol Usage in Young Adults

The goal of our study was to examine cognitive effects of alcohol in young adults at varied levels of alcohol usage using well-validated computerized cognitive measures. One hundred fifty-five young adults (mean age: 21.15 ± 3.092 years; 25.8% female), free from non-alcohol-related psychiatric diagnoses and drug use, underwent selected tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in conjunction with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire, and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Study participants were grouped according to alcohol frequency: nondrinkers, at-risk drinkers (subsyndromal alcohol usage), and alcohol use disorder. At-risk drinkers and individuals with alcohol use disorders bet significantly more overall on the Cambridge Gambling Task than nondrinkers. There were no significant differences noted between groups on the Spatial Working Memory task or Intra-dimensional/Extra-dimensional Set Shift task. Individuals with alcohol use disorders endorsed higher impulsivity than at-risk and nondrinkers on the Barratt Impulsivity Scale and Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire. Individuals with alcohol use disorders and at-risk drinkers also endorsed higher venturesomeness than nondrinkers on the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Results from the Cambridge Gambling Task suggest that even at a subsyndromal level, young adults make risky decisions that mirror those seen in individuals with alcohol use disorders.

Methadone-Mediated Autonomic Functioning of Male Patients with Heroin Dependence: The Influence of Borderline Personality Pattern

BackgroundWe hypothesize that the population with borderline personality shows different autonomic response to methadone compared to individuals with other personalities. This study applies heart rate variability (HRV) measurements and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) to examine this hypothesis.Methodology/Principal FindingsForty-four male patients with heroin dependence were recruited from a methadone maintenance treatment program. Eight personality patterns were classified according to the TPQ norm used in Taiwan. The borderline pattern (BP, composed of high novelty seeking, high harm avoidance and low reward dependence) and the other personality patterns (OP) were separated into two groups. We compared the HRV profiles between the BP and OP groups. Correlation and regression analysis were performed to clarify relationship between HRV differences and the borderline index (BI, a new concept defined by us, which is calculated as novelty seeking + harm avoidance – reward dependence). The HRV targets investigated included low frequency (LF) power, high frequency (HF) power, total power (TP), normalized LF (LF%), and LF/HF. No baseline HRV parameters showed any inter-group difference. The BP group had a significantly lower ΔHF and a higher ΔLF/HF than the OP group. The personality dimension, reward dependence, showed a negative correlation with ΔLF/HF and ΔLF%. BI was negatively correlated with ΔHF and positively correlated with ΔLF/HF and ΔLF%.Conclusions/SignificanceBorderline personality individuals show increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity compared to other personalities after taking methadone. The results support the hypothesis that there is an interaction between borderline personality and autonomic modulation.

Associations Between Chronotypes, Psychopathology, and Personality Among Incoming College Students

Chronotye is associated with age, sex, personality, and parental monitoring during childhood. The evening type is associated with poor school performance, sleep problems, anxious/depressive symptoms, tobacco smoking, caffeine consumption, alcohol drinking, and suicidality in adolescents. The present study tested the relationships between chronotype and a wide range of psychopathology and personality traits among 2919 incoming undergraduate students. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire that included demographics, plus the Morningness-Eveningness (M-E) scale, Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS), Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, and Maudesley Personality Inventory. The t-score distribution of the M-E scale was used to form the morning (t-score >60, n = 419), evening (t-score <40, n = 371), and intermediate (40 ≤ t-score ≤ 60, n = 2129) groups. Multivariable regression was employed for data analysis. For males, the evening type scored higher on all subscales of the BSRS than the morning type, except phobic anxiety. For females, the evening type had higher scores than the other two types on all subscales, except in obsession/compulsion and phobic anxiety, where the evening type only scored higher than the intermediate type. The evening type of both sexes also scored higher than the morning type in novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and neurotic personality characteristics, but lower than the morning type in extraversion and social desirability. In reward dependence, the evening type scored lowest for males, but there was no difference for females. The findings of the evening type being associated with possible psychopathology and certain types of personality have public health implications, that is, chronotype needs to be taken into account in the development of mental health prevention programs and assessment of and intervention for mental problems in young adults. (Author correspondence: gaushufe@ntu.edu.tw)

Personality Disorders and Dimensions in Pathological Gambling

Comorbid DSM-IV Axis II personality disorders appear to be common in pathological gambling (PG) and may contribute to the chronic problems often associated with the disorder. This study sought to examine the relationship between PG, personality disorders, and impulsivity in a sample of pathological gamblers. Personality assessments included the SCID-II, Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire, Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. A total of 77 individuals with DSM-IV PG were included in this study, of which 35 (45.5%) met criteria for at least one personality disorder. Specific aspects of impulsivity were associated with certain personality disorders in PG when grouped by cluster, yet the presence of a personality disorder was not positively correlated with gambling severity. It remains unclear how the presence of a personality disorder and aspects of impulsivity may affect treatment outcome. Further exploration of these disorders and dimensions of personality may encourage a more inclusively global treatment approach.

Cross-sectional survey of prevalence and personality characteristics of college students with internet addiction in Wenzhou, China.

BackgroundInternet addiction can seriously affect the social functioning and studies of college students in China but measures for addressing this problem have not yet been developed or tested.ObjectiveAssess the personality characteristics of college students with internet addiction.MethodsTwo self-report scales, the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), were administered to a stratified random sample of 697 college students from colleges and vocational schools in Wenzhou, China. The characteristics of 48 subjects who meet Chen's criteria for internet addiction (score of 64 or greater out of 100 on the CIAS) were compared to those of 649 subjects who did not meet criteria for internet addiction.ResultsThe prevalence of internet addiction in the sample was 6.9% (95% CI=5.1-9.1%). Compared to students without internet addiction, those with internet addiction were more likely to be male, of Han ethnicity, to have a history of substance use (primarily tobacco and alcohol), and to be a student at a technical college. Students with internet addiction had higher mean (sd) scores on the novelty-seeking subscale of the TPQ [17.9 (1.2) v. 13.0 (1.6), t=16.75 p<0.001] and on the harm-avoidance subscale [17.2 (1.9) v. 14.6 (1.1), t=15.14, p<0.001] but lower scores on the reward-dependence subscale [14.6 (1.4) v. 18.3 (1.7), t=-7.64, p<0.001]. Logistic regression found that the most important independent predictors of internet addiction were Han ethnicity (OR= 5.52, 95% CI=2.00-15.32), male gender (4.40, 1.97-9.81), and substance use (1.08, 1.02-1.15). After adjustment for other variables personality measures were not significantly associated with internet addiction.ConclusionThe prevalence of internet addiction among college students in Wenzhou is similar to that in other parts of China. Significant differences in the personality characteristics assessed by the TPQ between university students with and without internet addiction become non-significant after controlling for gender, ethnicity and substance use patterns.

Distinct Dopaminergic Personality Patterns in Patients with Prolactinomas: A Comparison with Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenoma Patients and Age- and Gender-Matched Controls

Introduction: Personality patterns such as extraversion and novelty seeking have been associated with an altered dopaminergic activity in healthy subjects. Patients with prolactinomas have been described as exhibiting an altered dopaminergic tone and are often treated with dopamine agonists. Little is known about the personality traits of this patient group. Hence, we aimed at examining whether patients with prolactinomas exhibit modified personality patterns compared to patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas and healthy controls. Subjects/Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 86 patients with prolactinomas and 58 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) were compared with 172 mentally healthy age- and gender-matched controls. To assess personality traits, standardized personality questionnaires (Eysenck personality questionnaire-EPQ-RK and Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire devised by Cloninger-TPQ) were administered. Results: Patients with either prolactinomas or NFPA showed a distinct personality profile compared to the normal population, characterized by increased neuroticism and they also answered in a socially desirable mode. On harm-avoidant total and subscales, they presented with a higher fear of uncertainty and also increased fatigability and asthenia. The prolactinoma patients, when contrasted with the ‘clinical’ control group of patients with NFPA and after post hoc tests for multiple comparisons following the Bonferroni-Holm procedure showed significantly reduced extraversion (p = 0.044) and increased shyness with strangers (p = 0.044), tending to be more neurotic and present lower scores in the novelty seeking subscale impulsiveness. Conclusion: This is, to our knowledge, the first study providing new evidence of an altered personality profile of prolactinoma patients which might affect the patient-doctor relationship, treatment and patient’s quality of life.

Vaginismus: Heightened Harm Avoidance and Pain Catastrophizing Cognitions

Catastrophic appraisal of experienced pain may promote hypervigilance and intense pain, while the personality trait of harm avoidance (HA) might prevent the occurrence of correcting such experiences. Women inflicted with vaginismus may enter a self-perpetuating downward spiral of increasing avoidance of (anticipated) pain. In vaginismus the anticipation of pain may give rise to catastrophic pain ideation. This may establish hypervigilance toward painful sexual stimuli, which consequently results in negative appraisal of sexual cues. This process could impair genital and sexual responding, intensify pain and trigger avoidance, which in turn may contribute to the onset and persistence of symptoms in vaginismus and to certain extent also in dyspareunia. To investigate whether women suffering from vaginismus are characterized by heightened levels of habitual pain catastrophic cognitions, together with higher levels of HA. This study consisted of three groups: a lifelong vaginismus group (N = 35, mean age = 28.4; standard deviation [SD] = 5.8), a dyspareunia group (N = 33, mean age = 26.7; SD = 6.8), and women without sexual complaints (N = 54, mean age = 26.5; SD = 6.7). HA scale of Cloninger's tridimensional personality questionnaire, and the pain catastrophizing scale. Specifically women inflicted with vaginismus showed significantly heightened levels of catastrophic pain cognitions compared with the other two groups, as well as significant enhanced HA vs. the control group, and a trend vs. the dyspareunia group. Both traits were shown to have cumulative predictive validity for the presence of vaginismus. This study focused on the personality traits of catastrophizing pain cognitions and HA in women with lifelong vaginismus. Our findings showed that indeed, women suffering from vaginismus are characterized by trait of HA interwoven with habitual pain catastrophizing cognitions. This study could help in the refinement of the current conceptualization and might shed light on the already available treatment options for women with vaginismus.

Italian validation of Multiple Visual Analogue Scales for Bipolarity (MVAS-BP) of Ahearn and Carroll

The aim of the present study was to validate the Italian version and to assess the clinimetric properties of Ahearn and Carroll's Visual Analogue Scales for Bipolarity (MVAS-BP), a self-rating questionnaire measuring affective state. MVAS-BP consist of 26 items: 1 item assesses overall mood, 2 items anger and 23 items are based on the Carroll model of bipolar disorder (Consummatory Reward, Incentive Reward, Central Pain, Psychomotor Regulation). MVAS-BP have been translated into Italian and administered with Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWB), and Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) to a normative sample of 450 people. The assessment was repeated after one month. Test-retest reliability, means scores, differences according to sociodemographic variables and correlations among the scales of MVAS-BP, SQ, PWB and TPQ were performed in order to assess clinimetric properties. Test-retest coefficients were highly significant. Significant sex differences were found in the scales of consummatory reward, central pain, psychomotor regulation and anger. MVAS-BP scales were significantly related with symptom and well-being scales, but with very low correlation coefficients, and only with one personality dimension, TPQ Harm Avoidance. MVAS-BP has been found to possess clinimetric properties and to record specific and different information from those investigated by other questionnaires.