[Personality traits in patients referred for functional dyspepsia]

To assess the prevalence of Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ)-personality deviations in patients referred for functional dyspepsia (FD) with reliable and universal psychological measures, and to explore the relationship between co-occurring PDQ-personality deviations and functional dyspepsia.

The sample comprised 246 patients referred for functional dyspepsia. Four groups were divided according to their patterns of gastrointestinal symptoms: the FD group, FD with reflux-like symptom group (FD + RS group), FD with irritable bowel syndrome group (FD + IBS group), and FD with reflux-like symptom and irritable bowel syndrome group (FD + RS + IBS group). Participants were assessed with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire for DSM-IV (PDQ-4) to evaluate the presence of personality deviations.

Overall 65% patients scored positive for any personality deviation, male and female alike. Cluster C (anxious/fearful) personality was most commonly found in FD patients (142 patients, 57.7%). The FD + IBS group and the FD + RS + IBS group had significantly higher total PDQ scores than the FD group (23.39 ± 8.77 and 24.22 ± 10.97 vs 18.98 ± 11.88, P < 0.05, respectively), indicating that FD patients with greater level of personality deviations tend to report other symptoms involving the esophagus and lower gastrointestinal tract. Reflux-like symptom without actual pathological acid regurgitation indicated cluster A (odd/eccentric) personality deviations.

The current study shows personality deviations are common in patients referred for functional dyspepsia. Negative emotions, maladaptive coping, and lack of social support, may strongly influence their healthcare-seeking behavior. There is no single personality type specific for some kind of gastrointestinal symptom. But FD patients with personality deviations tend to report other symptoms involving the esophagus and lower gastrointestinal tract.