title: Personality traits and metabolic control: a study in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study the authors evaluated the relationship between personality traits (according to DSM-III-R) and poor metabolic control in an adult onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus sample (n = 77).
  
  
  METHODS
  Personality traits were assessed with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire--Revised. Metabolic control was evaluated through glycosilated hemoglobin (HbA1c): poor metabolic control was defined as HbA1c > or = 9% (normal values < 6.0%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Principal Component Analysis revealed three personality profiles: 'Cluster A/C Mixed', 'Cluster B Dependent' and 'Cluster B Aggressive'. Oneway ANCOVA, using sex as covariate, revealed a significant association (p = 0.01) only between poor metabolic control and Cluster B Dependent profile. No correlation was found between HbA1c and the other profiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that a specific personality profile is associated with poor metabolic control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele, University of Milan School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Secchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin