title: Validity of Type D personality in Iceland: association with disease severity and risk markers in cardiac patients.
abstract: Type D personality has been associated with poor prognosis in cardiac patients. This study investigated the validity of the Type D construct in Iceland and its association with disease severity and health-related risk markers in cardiac patients. A sample of 1,452 cardiac patients completed the Type D scale (DS14), and a subgroup of 161 patients completed measurements for the five-factor model of personality, emotional control, anxiety, depression, stress and lifestyle factors. The Icelandic DS14 had good psychometric properties and its construct validity was confirmed. Prevalence of Type D was 26-29%, and assessment of Type D personality was not confounded by severity of underlying coronary artery disease. Regarding risk markers, Type D patients reported more psychopharmacological medication use and smoking, but frequency of previous mental problems was similar across groups. Type D is a valid personality construct in Iceland, and is associated with health-related risk markers, but not cardiac disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. e.svansdottir@uvt.nl
authors.forename: Erla
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svansdottir
authors.forename: Hrobjartur D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Thorarinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudnason
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Olason
authors.forename: Hordur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorgilsson
authors.forename: Unnur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sigtryggsdottir
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sijbrands
authors.forename: Susanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denollet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index