title: Trait neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness in multiple sclerosis: Link to cognitive impairment?
abstract: Previous research suggests that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have higher neuroticism, lower extraversion, and lower conscientiousness relative to healthy controls (HCs). However, the prevalence of this maladaptive profile in MS and its relation to cognition is unknown.
  
  
  
  Determine prevalence of maladaptive personality among MS patients, compared to HCs, and examine how it relates to cognitive dysfunction.
  
  
  
  A sample of 275 MS patients and 55 HCs completed neuroperformance measures of information processing speed and memory. Self and informant ratings were obtained on the NEO Five-Factor Inventory.
  
  
  
  MS patients had higher neuroticism and lower extraversion than HCs. Cognitively impaired patients were also lower in conscientiousness. Cluster analysis revealed a configuration of these same three traits, representing a maladaptive profile. This profile was found in 50% of the overall MS sample, compared to 24% of HCs. However, only cognitively impaired MS patients had a higher prevalence of maladaptive personality compared to HCs. Among cognitively impaired patients, those with maladaptive traits were impaired in more cognitive domains than those with more adaptive traits.
  
  
  
  Cognitively impaired MS patients have a higher prevalence of seemingly maladaptive traits compared to HCs, demonstrating an association between cognition and personality in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Shumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Allison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Neurosciences Institute of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Bárbara
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Eizaguirre
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA/Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA/MR Imaging Clinical Translational Research Center, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zivadinov
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY, USA/Department of Neurology, Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph Hb
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Benedict
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003242:Conscience; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; cognitive impairment; personality