Attachment,affective temperament,and personality disorders: A study of their relationships in psychiatric outpatients

Background

As the result of extensive translational and cross-disciplinary research, attachment theory is now a construct with significant neuropsychiatric traction. The correlation of attachment with other influential conceptual models (i.e. temperament and personality) is therefore of interest. Consequently, we explored how two attachment dimensions (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) correlated with measures of temperament and personality in 357 psychiatric outpatients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of four questionnaires (the Experiences in Close Relationship scale (ECR-R), Temperament and Character inventory (TCI), Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego questionnaire (TEMPS-A), and Personality Self-Portrait Questionnaire (PSQ)). Frequency measures and correlations were examined, as was the predictive value of attachment security for a personality disorder (PD).

Results

Significant, robust correlations were found between attachment anxiety and (1) several negative affective temperaments (dysthymic and cyclothymic); (2) several indices of personality pathology (low self-directedness (TCI), DSM-IV paranoid, borderline, histrionic, avoidant and dependent personality traits). Attachment avoidance had fewer large correlations. In an exploratory model, the negative predictive value of attachment security for a PD was 86%.

Limitations

Subjects were a relatively homogeneous subset of ambulatory psychiatric outpatients. PD diagnoses were via self-report.

Conclusions

Clinically, these findings highlight the significant overlap between attachment, affective temperament, and personality and support the value of attachment as a screen for PDs. More broadly, given our growing understanding of the neurobiology of attachment (i.e. links with the oxytocin system), these results raise interesting questions about underlying biological systems and psychiatric treatment.     

Personality pathways to mortality: Interleukin-6 links conscientiousness to mortality risk

Personality is associated consistently with mortality hazards, but the physiological pathways are not yet clear. Immune system dysregulation may be one such pathway due to its role in age-related morbidity and mortality. In this preregistered study, we tested whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) mediated the associations between personality traits and mortality hazards. The sample included 957 participants (M ± SD = 58.65 ± 11.51 years; range = 35–86 years) from the Midlife in the United States Survey that had 14 years of follow-up. Higher conscientiousness was associated with lower mortality hazards, with each one standard deviation higher conscientiousness associated with a 35% lower mortality risk. IL-6, but not CRP, partially mediated this association, with IL-6 accounting for 18% of this association in the fully adjusted model. While there was initial evidence that the biomarkers mediated both neuroticism and agreeableness and mortality risk, the indirect effects were not significant when controlling for the sociodemographic variables. Taken together, higher conscientiousness may lead to a longer life partially as a result of lower IL-6. This work highlights the importance of biological pathways that link personality to future mortality risk.     

Swedish Universities Scales of Personality: Relation to Other Personality Instruments

ObjectiveTo investigate associations between Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP) and scales of the following personality instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R axis II screening questionnaire (SCID-II screen), revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R), revised Chapman scales (Chapman) and the psychotic traits questionnaire (STQ). MethodsHealthy individuals (n=406) completed self-report personality questionnaires including SSP and at least one more personality inventory. Correlations were calculated between the 13 different SSP subscales as well as SSP’s three factors and factors and scales/subscales in SCID-II screen, NEO-PI-R, Chapman and STQ. The main factors of the various instruments were factor analysed. ICC were calculated. ResultsSSP Neuroticism factor correlated with SCID-II cluster C (r=0.71), NEO Neuroticism (r=0.80) and Chapman Social anhedonia (r=0.62). SSP Extraversion factor correlated with NEO Extraversion (r=0.63) and SSP Aggressiveness factor with NEO Agreeableness (r=-0.62). Strong correlations between SSP factors and scales and scales of the other instruments were sparse, although weaker correlations were common. ConclusionSSP is a useful investigation tool when measuring personality traits related to temperament-like features. SSP partly correlates well to especially three of the NEO-PI-R factors. The different personality inventories are not completely comparable to each other. Instead, they measure personality aspects in partly different ways.     

军队医院住院医师睡眠质量的心理社会因素

目的调查驻军中心医院住院医师的睡眠质量及心理社会影响因素。方法应用整群覆盖调查方式,以匹兹堡睡眠指数量表(PSQI)、艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)、生活事件量表(LES)、应付方式量表、社会支持量表(SSRS)对被试群体进行调查,结果以成组t检验、多元逐步回归分析方式进行统计学处理。结果①PSQI:被试群体中44.50%存在睡眠障碍,睡眠障碍组7个因子及总分均显著高于中国常模(t=4.218～36.477,P<0.01);②EPQ:睡眠障碍组内外向(t=2.531,P<0.05)极显著低于非睡眠障碍组,而神经质分(t=3.213,P<0.01)极显著高于后者;③LES:睡眠障碍组在"家庭问题"(t=2.398,P<0.05)、"正性事件"(t=2.617,P<0.01)、"负性事件"(t=2.617,P<0.01)、"生活事件总和"(t=2.777,P<0.05)4项得分均显著高于非睡眠障碍组;④应付方式问卷:睡眠障碍组在"解决问题"(t=3.293,P<0.01)、"求助"(t=3.105,P<0.01)2项得分显著低于非睡眠障碍组,而在"自责"(t=3.105,P<0.01)、"幻想"(t=3.216,P<0.01)、"回避"(t=3.163,P<0.01)、"合理化"(t=2.963,P<0.01)4项得分显著高于后者;⑤SSRS:睡眠障碍组在"客观支持"(t=5.544,P<0.01)、"主观支持"(t=3.265,P<0.01)、"支持利用度"(t=6.366,P<0.01)、"总分"(t=2.456,P<0.05)4项得分均显著低于非睡眠障碍组;⑥PSQI的影响因素:所有入选因素中,以"神经质"对因变量的出现频率最高,其次为"负性事件"、"客观支持"、"幻想",而"解决问题"为唯一的保护性因素。结论军队医院住院医师的睡眠障碍严重,且与情绪不稳定性、高生活事件数量、不成熟应对方式、社会支持程度缺乏等因素密切相关。     

消防员明尼苏达多相人格量表测量

目的分析明尼苏达多种人格量表(MMPI)在消防部队的适用性以及消防员的个性心理特征和影响因素。方法通过分层比例抽样在全国消防基层中队抽取1500名官兵进行MMPI测试。结果有82.7%的个体测量可靠性佳;与全国常模相比,除Hs、Pd、Ma分量表外,其它量表的差异都达到了统计显著水平(t=-32.94～19.56,P<0.001)。效度量表L、K和临床量表Hy的得分比常模高,而F量表和其余6个临床量表(D、Mf、Pa、Pt、Sc、Si)得分低于常模;把临床量表中有1项以上T分>60的人员记为偏常人员,则偏常人员约占总数的36.9%。职别对MMPI量表的测量结果影响较为广泛,干部在Hs、D、Pt、Sc、Si等临床量表上有更低的得分(P<0.05)。结论消防员整体的心理健康状态尚好,但有较多的躯体不适和心理压力。职别是影响消防员心理状况的重要人口学因素。MMPI用于消防部队筛选效率较低,应用还需慎重。     

产后抑郁症患者认知模式与人格特质

目的探讨产后抑郁症患者(PPD)认知模式、人格特质的特点及两者之间的关系。方法采用自动思维问卷(ATQ)、功能失调性态度问卷(DAS)、艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)、爱丁堡产后抑郁量表(EPDS)对389名产后3～7天的产妇进行测查。结果①在389名调查者中,产后抑郁症患者147例(37.8%);②产后抑郁症患者与产后非抑郁产妇的ATQ总分和DAS总分差异有统计学意义(t=10.271,4.993;P<0.001);产后抑郁症患者与产后非抑郁产妇DAS的7个因子脆弱性、完美化、强制性、寻求赞许、依赖性、自主性态度、认知哲学得分差异均有统计学意义(t=2.736,4.082,2.826,3.736,3.321,2.649,2.924;P<0.01);③产后抑郁症患者和产后非抑郁产妇的精神质(P)、内外倾(E)、神经质(N)、和说谎(L)4个量表的得分差异均有统计学意义(t=3.990,2.052,11.154,4.038;P<0.01);④产后抑郁症患者的精神质与ATQ总分,认知哲学呈正相关(r=0.276,0.223;P<0.01);说谎与ATQ总分呈负相关(r=-0.252,P<0.01);内外倾与脆弱性、自主性态度呈负相关(r=-0.144,-0.167;P<0.05),神经质与ATQ总分、吸引/排斥呈正相关(r=0.369,0.183;P<0.05);⑤精神质和神经质可以预测产后抑郁症患者的自动思维,建立的回归方程为:ATQ=3.959+0.705×TN+0.329×TP。结论产后抑郁症患者存在歪曲认知;产妇的人格特质与抑郁的发生关系密切,对自动思维具有预测作用。     

The role of cognitive biases and personality variables in subclinical delusional ideation

Introduction. A number of cognitive biases, most notably a data gathering bias characterised by “jumping to conclusions” (JTC), and the “bias against disconfirmatory evidence” (BADE), have been shown to be associated with delusions and subclinical delusional ideation. Certain personality variables, particularly “openness to experience”, are thought to be associated with schizotypy.

Methods. Using structural equation modelling, we examined the association between two higher order subfactors (“aspects”) of “openness to experience” (labelled “openness” and “intellect”), these cognitive biases, and their relationship to subclinical delusional ideation in 121 healthy, nonpsychiatric controls.

Results. Our results suggest that cognitive biases (specifically the data gathering bias and BADE) and the “openness” aspect are independently associated with subclinical delusional ideation, and the data gathering bias is weakly associated with “positive schizotypy”. “Intellect” is negatively associated with delusional ideation and might play a potential protective role.

Conclusions. Cognitive biases and personality are likely to be independent risk factors for the development of delusions.     

人格特质及情绪调节自我效能感对房颤患者焦虑的影响研究：心理灵活性的调节效应

目的：探讨情绪调节自我效能感在房颤患者人格特质与焦虑的中介作用以及心理灵活性对中介效应的调节作用。方法：采用大五人格量表、情绪调节自我效能感量表、心理灵活性综合评估量表以及焦虑自评量表对天津市某三甲综合医院心律失常门诊的309名房颤患者进行调查。通过Pearson相关分析确定变量间的关联,并通过PROCESS V3.0对中介效应以及调节效应进行检验。结果：在控制性别的情况下,开放性人格特质对焦虑情绪具有正向预测作用;情绪调节自我效能感在开放性人格特质与焦虑情绪的关系中起部分中介作用,中介效应占总效应的71.2%;情绪调节自我效能感对焦虑情绪的中介作用受到心理灵活性水平的调节。结论：开放性人格特质可通过改变情绪调节自我效能感进而影响房颤患者焦虑情绪发展,提高心理灵活性可以加强情绪调节自我效能感对焦虑的中介作用。     

A Comparison of Personality Characteristics and Psychiatric Symptomatology between Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

ObjectiveTo investigate the personality characteristics of patients with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and those of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).MethodsEighty-eight patients with UARS and 365 patients with OSAS participated. All patients had a diagnostic full-night attended polysomnography (PSG) and completed the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ).ResultsThe UARS group scored significantly higher than the OSAS group on the ESS, AIS, and PSQI (p<0.001). The scores of all SCL-90-R subscales in the UARS group were significantly higher than those in the OSA group (all p<0.001, except for somatization, p=0.016). Patients with UARS scored lower on EPQ-E (extroversion/introversion) (p=0.006) and EPQ-L (lie) (p<0.001) than those with OSA. UARS patients also showed higher scores on EPQ-P (psychoticism) (p=0.002) and EPQ-N (neuroticism) (p<0.001) than OSAS patients.ConclusionOur results suggest that patients with UARS have worse subjective sleep quality than OSAS patients in spite of their better PSG findings. UARS patients tend to have more neurotic and sensitive personalities than patients with OSAS, which may be a cause of the clinical features of UARS.