title: Five-factor model personality traits as predictors of incident coronary heart disease in the community: a 10.5-year cohort study based on the Baltimore epidemiologic catchment area follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Certain personality and behavioral traits (e.g., type A and type D) have been reported to be associated with development and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD), but few have examined the relationship using a comprehensive assessment of personality along with a structured assessment of psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on participants (age: 47.3 ± 12.8; female: 62.6%) of the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area follow-up study, we examined the relationship between the 5 major domains of personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and incident CHD between Wave III (1993-1996) and Wave IV (2004-2005).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incident CHD developed in 65 participants during the follow-up. Those with incident CHD had lower on openness (44.06 ± 9.29 vs. 47.18 ± 8.80; p = 0.007) and extraversion (45.98 ± 9.25 vs. 49.12 ± 8.92; p = 0.007) scores than those without. Logistic regression models revealed an inverse association (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.54-0.98) between openness factor z-scores and incident CHD after adjusting for putative confounding factors, including DSM III-R Major Depressive Disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High openness appears to be an independent protective factor for incident CHD in the community. Future studies should examine behavioral and pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: hochang.lee@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Hochang Benjamin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Offidani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ziegelstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Mental Health, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Oscar Joseph
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Department of Mental Health, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nestadt
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010556:Personality Tests; D012307:Risk Factors