title: Do patients with allergic rhinitis have a particular personality trait?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the personality traits of patients with allergic rhinitis. It also examined the association between personality type and the type of allergic rhinitis, and compared this with the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive observational pilot study was carried out on 50 consecutive cases of allergic rhinitis who presented to the allergy clinic between June and October 2010. These patients were compared with a control group comprising 50 individuals from the general population that had no symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Both groups completed the International Personality Disorder Examination questionnaire for the assessment of personality traits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persons falling into cluster C personality type showed a positive correlation with the type and severity of allergic rhinitis. The majority of control group individuals fell into cluster A. This indicated a correlation between allergic rhinitis and a dominant anxious trait compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In psycho-allergological research, the potential relevance of personality factors in the maintenance and exacerbation of atopic symptoms is still a matter of debate. More attention should be paid to the psychological status of allergic rhinitis patients, and appropriate treatment should be provided to improve their symptoms and quality of life.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Vamanshankar
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Hegde
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chaturvedi
authors: C B
authors: CB
authors: Pratibha
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ross
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Nayar
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Parameshwaran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult