The INSPIRE study: are different personality traits related to disease-specific quality of life (IBDQ) in distressed patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?
BACKGROUND
To explore the relationship between personality and disease-specific quality of life [Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ)] in distressed [Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ)] patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
Included in the study were 56 patients with UC and 54 patients with CD ranging in age from 18 to 60 years with a relapse in the previous 18 months, a UC or CD activity index 4, a PSQ 60, and without serious mental or other serious medical condition. The patients completed the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the Neuroticism and Lie (social conformity/desirability) scales of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (LOC) Scale [Internal (I), Powerful Other (PO), Chance (C)], the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the IBDQ.


RESULTS
In linear regression controlling for sex, education (years), and clinical disease activity (AI) in separate analyses of UC and CD patients, higher IBDQ score was related to less social conformity in CD and less neuroticism in UC; higher emotional function score was related to less neuroticism in both CD and UC and less PO-LOC in UC. Higher social function score was related to less social conformity in CD and lower I-LOC and PO-LOC in UC. Bowel function and systemic symptoms were unrelated to personality in either UC or CD.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the emotional function subscale was related to neuroticism in both UC and CD, the social function subscale and total IBDQ were related to different personality traits in UC and CD. Personality traits should be taken into account when using IBDQ in studies.
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway. birgitte.boye@rikshospitalet.no
Birgitte
B
Boye
Jorgen
J
Jahnsen
Kjell
K
Mokleby
Siv
S
Leganger
Günter
G
Jantschek
Ingrid
I
Jantschek
Sebastian
S
Kunzendorf
Dieter
D
Benninghoven
Ingvard
I
Wilhelmsen
Michael
M
Sharpe
Svein
S
Blomhoff
Ulrik F
UF
Malt
Knut E A
KE
Lundin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires