Patterns of temperament and character in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and their association with symptom severity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of temperament and character of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to explore the relationship between the patterns of temperament and character and PTSD symptoms severity.


METHODS
Temperament and character features of 130 patients with PTSD (n = 65) and age and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 65) were evaluated using the Temperament and Character Inventory. Severity of PTSD symptoms and general anxiety symptoms was measured with the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS).


RESULTS
Patients with PTSD showed significantly higher scores on subscales of harm avoidance and self-transcendence and lower scores on self-directedness and cooperativeness compared to controls. Harm avoidance and self-transcendence scores were significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity as measured by IES-R but not with general anxiety symptom severity as measured by HARS.


CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of temperament and character of patients with PTSD were significantly different from those of healthy controls. In addition, these patterns are specifically associated with the PTSD symptom severity.
Department of Psychiatry, St Paul's Hospital and College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 150-713, Republic of Korea.
Sujung J
SJ
Yoon
Chansoo S
CS
Jun
Hye-young
HY
An
Hyoung Ryul
HR
Kang
Tae-Youn
TY
Jun
D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament