title: The association between personality traits and treatment outcomes in Korean patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association between personality traits and treatment outcomes in male Korean patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the personality traits and the severity of LUTS/BPH symptoms at baseline using the Korean versions of the 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-K) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), respectively. The IPSS was re-administered following a 12-week routine treatment regime, and we examined the relationship between treatment outcome and personality traits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 176 patients initially screened, 101 agreed to participate in the study. Of those, 93 (92.1%) completed the 12-week trial and the BFI-K. Neuroticism was associated with a significantly worse treatment response, whereas extraversion was associated with a significantly better treatment response, and openness was associated with a high responder rate. Agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness were associated with improved week-12 IPSS total scores; however, the results were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an association between treatment response and personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion and openness in patients with LUTS/BPH. However, further studies with larger samples and an improved design are needed to support our findings.
authors: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Jun Sung
authors: JS
authors: Koh
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Eunpyeong Hospital, Seoul 122-913, Korea.
authors: Hyo Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Ko
authors: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Kang Joon
authors: KJ
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Joon Chul
authors: JC
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors: Soo-Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: pae@catholic.ac.kr.
authors: Chi-Un
authors: CU
authors: Pae
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Personality; Response; Treatment