Tonic arousal and activity: relationships to personality and personality disorder traits in panic patients.
Personality theorists have long predicted a relationship between personality traits and autonomic activation. In this study, 48 patients with panic disorder underwent personality assessment by questionnaire (Eysenck Personality Inventory: 48 patients) and by interview (Personality Disorders Examination: 35 patients). Ambulatory heart rate and activity were measured by the Vitalog method and were used as measures of activation and autonomic arousal. There was a significant positive correlation between histrionic traits and activity level and a significant negative correlation between sociability and heart rate. The findings are consistent with previous studies showing a negative relationship between sensation-seeking personality traits and cerebrospinal fluid levels of norepinephrine and a positive relationship between extroversion and cerebrospinal fluid levels of dopamine.
King
R J
RJ
Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305.
Bayon
E P
EP
Clark
D B
DB
Taylor
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*