Type A and genital herpes

This study investigated a possible relationship between the Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) and genital herpes, and sought to confirm earlier observations of a relationship between TABP, allergies, and upper respiratory infections. The research participants were 105 members of a herpes self-help group. The subjects conformed to epidemiological evidence of a greater prevalence of genital herpes in young adult women; they were also highly educated and tended to be single and to live in rental accommodations. TABP was measured by Form C of the Jenkins Activity Survey. The Type A subjects were not more prevalent in our sample, and there were no A-B differences in the frequency of recurrences. However, Type A subjects experienced significantly greater symptom severity during recurrences and were more likely to seek symptomatic treatment. The overall pattern of results suggested that these A-B differences in severity likely reflected physiological or immunological differences rather than simply differences in response bias between Type A and B subjects. Finally, the study failed to replicate earlier observations of associations between TABP and allergies, and TABP and respiratory infections.