title: Personality and anxiety disorders.
abstract: Personality traits and most anxiety disorders are strongly related. In this article, we review existing evidence for ways in which personality traits may relate to anxiety disorders: 1) as predisposing factors, 2) as consequences, 3) as results of common etiologies, and 4) as pathoplastic factors. Based on current information, we conclude the following: 1) Personality traits such as high neuroticism, low extraversion, and personality disorder traits (particularly those from Cluster C) are at least markers of risk for certain anxiety disorders; 2) Remission from panic disorder is generally associated with partial "normalization" of personality traits; 3) Anxiety disorders in early life may influence personality development; 4) Anxiety disorders and personality traits are usefully thought of as spectra of common genetic etiologies; and 5) Extremes of personality traits indicate greater dysfunction in patients with anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 115, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandes
authors.forename: O Joseph
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors