title: Stress proneness in molecularly defined long QT syndrome: a study using temperament assessment by behavioural inhibition system scale.
abstract: The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited cardiac disorder that predisposes the mutation carrier to ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden death. The objective of the present study was to replicate the previous finding in terms of stress-related temperament trait, i.e. behavioural inhibition system (BIS). The study subjects included 583 LQTS mutation carriers (256 symptomatic and 327 asymptomatic) from the Finnish LQTS registry and 79 healthy subjects randomly derived from the population-based sample of the Young Finns Study. Symptomatic and asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers did not differ from each other on BIS (3.27 versus 3.24, p > 0.05), whereas LQTS mutation carriers scored higher on BIS than the comparison group derived from the representative population-based sample (3.25 versus 2.99, p = 0.003, η² = 0.014). BIS was significantly higher in women than in men (3.32 versus 3.06, p < 0.001, η² = 0.017). The results confirm our previous finding of higher stress proneness of LQTS mutation carriers. Their innate stress proneness may have relevance because it increases our understanding on the role of stress in the manifestation of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: IBS, Unit of Personality, Work and Health Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilmari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Määttänen
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontula
authors.forename: Mirka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintsanen
authors.forename: Saija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alatupa
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hintsa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult