Different temperament and character dimensions correlate with panic disorder comorbidity in bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate temperament and character correlates of panic disorder (PD) comorbidity in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or unipolar depression (UD).


METHODS
Temperament and character were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory Revised (TCI-R) in 181 patients (70 patients with BD-I, 51 patients with BD-II and 60 with UD) in a euthymic state for at least 2 months.


RESULTS
PD was diagnosed in 14.3% of BD-I patients, 31.4% of BD-II and 40% of UD. BD patients with PD, when compared with BD patients without PD, had higher scores on harm avoidance (OR=1.04; 95% CI=1.02-1.07; p=0.002). Patients with UD and PD, when compared to patients with UD without PD, had higher scores on social acceptance (OR=1.27; 95% CI=1.08-1.49; p=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Different temperament and character dimensions correlated with PD comorbidity in BD and UD patients, suggesting different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Mula
Marco
M
Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnologies, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Pini
Stefano
S
Monteleone
Palmiero
P
Iazzetta
Paolo
P
Preve
Matteo
M
Tortorella
Alfonso
A
Amato
Emilia
E
Di Paolo
Luca
L
Conversano
Ciro
C
Rucci
Paola
P
Cassano
Giovanni B
GB
Maj
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002605:Character; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament