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Rheumatoid arthritis and personality: a controlled study.
British Medical Journal
|May 8, 1971
Summary
People with rheumatoid arthritis exhibit distinct personality traits compared to healthy individuals and those with neuroses. These personality differences, particularly lower neuroticism and extraversion, become more pronounced as rheumatoid arthritis becomes chronic.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding a specific link between personality and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Understanding personality differences in rheumatoid arthritis patients is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate personality differences between early rheumatoid arthritis, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, neurotic patients, and healthy controls.
- To explore the influence of chronicity on personality traits in rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Maudsley Personality Inventory (M.P.I.) and Neurotic Trait in Childhood (N.T.C.) score.
- Compared four distinct groups: early RA, chronic RA, neurotic patients, and normal controls.
Main Results:
- Rheumatoid arthritis groups showed lower M.P.I. neuroticism and extraversion scores than controls, with greater significance in the chronic RA group.
- The neurotic group exhibited significantly higher neuroticism and lower extraversion scores compared to all other groups.
- No significant difference in N.T.C. scores was observed between arthritis and control groups, but it was elevated in the neurotic group.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis possess distinct personality profiles compared to both healthy and neurotic populations.
- Personality differences in rheumatoid arthritis patients are exacerbated by disease chronicity.
- These findings suggest that personality alterations may develop as a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis.