Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
Published on: March 15, 2019
Patients with vitiligo have a distinct affective temperament profile: A cross-sectional study using Temperament
Noureddine Litaiem1,2, Olfa Charfi1,2, Sami Ouanes3
1Department of Dermatology Charles Nicolle Hospital Tunis Tunisia.
Background:
Vitiligo is a skin disease associated with significant psychiatric comorbidities. Affective temperaments represent the inherited foundation of personality and represent the biologically stable part of emotional reactivity. Studies assessing the temperament profile of patients with vitiligo are still scarce.
Method:
This was a cross-sectional study enrolling 34 patients with vitiligo and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Affective temperament profile was investigated using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Paris, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire. Dermatology life quality index was used to evaluate disease impact on patients' quality of life.
Results:
We found significant differences with vitiligo patients scoring higher in anxious (11.5 ± 4.76 vs. 9.06 ± 6.22; p = 0.036) and lower in hyperthymic (5.79 ± 3.82 vs. 7.5 ± 3.64; p = 0.027) temperaments. Vitiligo worsening reported by patients was associated with recent psychological stressors in 18 cases (52.9%) and Koebner phenomenon in 20 cases (58.8%). Koebner phenomenon was more frequently associated with the hyperthymic temperament (p = 0.035). Cyclothymic temperament was positively correlated with Dermatology life quality index (rho = 0.417, p = 0.014).
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that patients with vitiligo have a distinct premorbid temperament profile. Having low hyperthymic and high anxious temperament traits seem to predispose patients to be less resilient to psychological stressors. A better understanding of the affective traits of vitiligo patients would be vital in personalising and adapting the management of this chronic skin disease.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

