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Neuroticism as a risk factor for schizophrenia.
1Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University of Maastricht, European Graduate School of Neuroscience, The Netherlands.
Psychological Medicine
|August 22, 2001
Summary
High neuroticism increases schizophrenia risk, while extraversion lowers it. These personality traits, studied in individuals aged 16, impact later mental health outcomes, suggesting shared factors with depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Neuroticism is a known risk factor for depression.
- Extraversion is associated with a reduced risk of depression.
- The role of these personality traits in schizophrenia etiology is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine and quantify the risk for schizophrenia associated with neuroticism and extraversion.
- To investigate the relationship between personality traits in adolescence and the development of adult schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- A national birth cohort of 5362 individuals was studied.
- Neuroticism and extraversion were assessed at age 16.
- The association with adult schizophrenia diagnosis was analyzed.
Main Results:
- High neuroticism significantly increased the risk of developing schizophrenia (OR: 1.93).
- This association remained independent of adult affective symptoms.
- High extraversion was associated with a reduced risk of schizophrenia (OR: 0.44).
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia and depression may share common personality-related risk and protective factors.
- Individual coping styles linked to personality traits might influence symptom progression to full-blown illness.