Clustering of negative affectivity and social inhibition in the community: prevalence of type D personality as a cardiovascular risk marker.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the prevalence of Type D personality-the combination of negative affectivity and social inhibition-in the general population and its relationship to other cardiovascular risk factors, including psychopathological symptoms. Type D personality has been identified as a prognostic risk factor for various cardiovascular disease conditions.


METHODS
In a representative sample of 2698 individuals (aged 35-74 years), psychological, lifestyle, and somatic risk factors were investigated with laboratory testing, self-report measures, and a clinical interview. Type D was assessed with the German Type D Scale-14.


RESULTS
The prevalence of Type D was 23.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.2-25.6) in men and 26.9% (95% CI, 23.7-30.1) in women and, thus, in the range of classical risk factors (e.g., hypercholesterolemia). In age-adjusted analysis, Type D was associated with psychopathological symptoms, including depression and somatic symptom burden. With the exception of physical inactivity in both sexes, hypertension in women and hypercholesterolemia in men, Type D was not associated with classical cardiovascular risk factors. Multivariate analysis revealed depression, exhaustion, anxiety, and low self-rated health as associated with Type D in both sexes (odds ratios, 1.97-3.21 in men, 1.52-2.44 in women).


CONCLUSIONS
A Type D personality disposition can be found in about a quarter of the general population, which is comparable to the prevalence of classical cardiovascular risk factors. In both sexes, an independent association to Type D appeared mainly in psychopathological symptoms. Type D constitutes a relevant and independent risk marker in the community and should receive attention in clinical practice.
Hausteiner
Constanze
C
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Klupsch
Daniela
D
Emeny
Rebecca
R
Baumert
Jens
J
Ladwig
Karl-Heinz
KH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult