title: The impact of personality on quality of life and disease activity in patients with Behcet's disease: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the personality characteristics of patients with Behcet's Disease (BD) using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) compared with healthy control subjects and to investigate the relationship between the temperament and character properties and quality of life, disease activity, depression and anxiety in Behcet's patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 46 BD patients and 40 healthy subjects were included in the study. All patients and controls were determined using the TCI, Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Clinical Version for Axis I disorders (SCID-CV), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Quality of life (QOL) Instrument for Skin Disorders and Behcet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  BD patients demonstrated significantly lower Reward Dependence than healthy controls. Among the subscales; Explarotory Excitability, Shyness with Strangers, Attachment, Spiritual Acceptance were lower and Self-Acceptance was higher in patients compared to control subjects. Decreased quality of life and increased disease activity of the patients were correlated with increased anxiety and depression. Responsibility, Self-Forgetfulness and Transpersonal Identification were associated with quality of life while Responsibility was the major factor effecting QOL. Disease activity was not found related with TCI properties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temperament and Character traits of BD patients were different from healthy group that might be due to many factors like genetics, biological or socio-cultural differences. BD patients were demonstrated as materialistic, self-contained, self-confident, cold, detached, and reserved although they are not shy. Considering the different personality traits of BD patients in psychotherapeutic approaches, may have a positive impact on QOL and comorbid major depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University Department of Psychiatry, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: incimeltem@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Inci Meltem
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University Department of Dermatology, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: ijlalerturan@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Ijlal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erturan
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University Department of Psychiatry, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: demirdasmd@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirdas
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University Department of Psychiatry, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: yaman.eg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gozde Bacık
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demirel University Department of Neurology, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: vedatyurekli@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vedat Ali
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Yürekli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D002605:Character; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013694:Temperament