Temperament and character: prognostic factors in whiplash patients?
We studied the relationship between whiplash injury and personality in 40 whiplash patients who admitted the hospital within 8 h from the car accident and 80 age- and gender-matched controls. For this purpose we used the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). We found that personality dimensions in whiplash patients both in the acute phase and at follow-up 2 years later showed the same results, i.e., significantly less Harm Avoidant (less anxious; low HA) than controls, but when dividing patients into groups depending on severity of outcome from whiplash injury 2 years after, no differences were found. According to our results personality symptoms related to whiplash injury is probably not a secondary phenomenon. Whiplash patients were normally developed in character, i.e., self-directedness (SD), and CO (cooperativeness) and therefore in general are capable of coping with their somatic problems.
Pettersson
Kurt
K
Department of Orthopedics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. kurt.pettersson@orebroll.se
Brändström
Sven
S
Toolanen
Göran
G
Hildingsson
Christer
C
Nylander
Per-Olof
PO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011379:Prognosis; D013694:Temperament; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000523:psychology*