title: A taxometric analysis of type-D personality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the dimensionality of Type-D personality, using taxometric procedures, to assess if Type-D personality is taxonic or dimensional. Type-D personality is treated as a categorical variable and caseness has been shown to be a risk factor for poor prognosis in coronary heart disease. However, at present, there is no direct evidence to support the assumption that Type D is categorical and able to differentiate true cases from noncases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 1012 healthy young adults from across the United Kingdom and Ireland completed the DS14, the standard index of Type D, and scores were submitted to two taxometric procedures MAMBAC and MAXCOV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Graphical representations (comparing actual with simulated data) and fit indices indicated that Type D is more accurately represented as a dimensional rather than categorical construct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type D is better represented as a dimensional construct. Implications for theory development and clinical practice with respect to Type D are examined as well as the wider use of taxometrics within psychosomatic medicine (e.g., to investigate if there are medically unexplained syndrome taxons, such as a Gulf War Syndrome taxon).
authors.affiliation: Risk Analysis, Social Processes and Health (RASPH) group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. eamonn.ferguson@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Rory C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Siobhán
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Derek W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Daryl B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Madeleine A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grealy
authors.forename: Ronan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: O'Carroll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods