Affective temperaments in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The issue whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have certain personality characteristics has been discussed. The temperament and personality characteristics of the patient may influence success in competing with stress. The aims of the study were to determine the most common dominant affective temperaments in patients with RA and whether temperament affects the disability.


METHODS
A total of 88 patients with RA participated in this cross-sectional study. The Turkish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto Questionnaire scale was used to determine the dominant affective temperament, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to determine functional ability.


RESULTS
Depressive temperament was found in 52 patients (59.1%) as the most common dominant affective temperament followed by irritable temperament in 17 patients (19.3%). There was no significant difference in HAQ scores of the patients according to the subscales of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto Questionnaire. Disability levels of patients were found as low-level disability in 65 patients and high-level disability in 23 patients. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that HAQ score was not associated with gender, body mass index, duration of the disease, depressive temperament, anxious temperament, cyclothymic temperament or irritable temperament.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study showed that depressive and irritable temperaments are the most common affective temperaments in patients with RA. The dominant affective temperament does not affect the functional ability of patients with RA.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aylin
A
Rezvani
Lütfiye
L
Aytüre
Mehtap
M
Arslan
Erhan
E
Kurt
Saliha
S
Eroğlu Demir
İlhan
İ
Karacan
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D014421:Turkey
Health Assessment Questionnaire; affective temperament; depression; functional ability; rheumatoid arthritis