Patient Personality (patient + personality)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Patient personality predicts postoperative stay after colorectal cancer resection

COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 2 2008
A. Sharma
Abstract Objective, Postoperative length of stay (LOS) is an important outcome after colorectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the putative effects of personality, mood, coping and quality of life on LOS. Method, A consecutive series of 110 eligible patients undergoing elective resection for colorectal cancer were invited to participate in the study. A battery of psychometric questionnaires including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (colorectal), the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, the Positive and Negative Affectivity Scale and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were administered 5,12 days before surgery. Nonparametric correlations were computed for psychometric scores, demographic variables and the LOS. Factors found to be significantly correlated on this analysis were entered into a multiple regression model to determine the independent predictors of LOS. Results, One hundred and four patients with colorectal cancer participated. Seventy were male (67%) and the mean age was 68 years (range 39,86). The median LOS was 10 days (range 4,108). LOS was negatively correlated with pre- and postoperative albumin levels, PANAS +ve affect, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire with the colorectal module functional well-being score and EPQ extroversion score. LOS was strongly positively correlated with postoperative morbidity. LOS was positively correlated with CECS anger score, age and being male. Postoperative morbidity (, = 0.379, P = 0.007) and extroversion (, = ,0.318, P = 0.05) were independent predictors of LOS. Conclusion, Personality as measured by EPQ predicts postoperative LOS in patients with colorectal cancer. Extroverts have a higher pain threshold and this may be part of the explanation. [source]


The role of patient personality in the identification of depression in older primary care patients

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 11 2007
Laura W. McCray
Abstract Background Our aim was to evaluate whether personality factors significantly contribute to the identification of depression in older primary care patients, even after controlling for depressive symptoms. Methods We examined the association between personality factors and the identification of depression among 318 older adults who participated in the Spectrum study. Results High neuroticism (unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 2.36, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.42, 3.93]) and low extraversion (adjusted OR 2.24, CI [1.26, 4.00]) were associated with physician identification of depression. Persons with high conscientiousness were less likely to be identified as depressed by the doctor (adjusted OR 0.45, CI [0.22, 0.91]). Conclusion Personality factors influence the identification of depression among older persons in primary care over and above the relationship of depressive symptoms with physician identification. Knowledge of personality may influence the diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Objective vs. subjective factors in the psychological impact of vitiligo: the experience from a French referral centre

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
P. Kostopoulou
Summary Background, Vitiligo affects around 0·5% of the population. The burden of disease perceived by patients seems to be underestimated by the medical community. Objectives, To analyse the impact of objective and psychological factors on the quality of life (QoL) and self-body image of patients with vitiligo. Methods, Demographic data, medical information and psychological factors (perceived severity, trait anxiety, trait depression, trait self-esteem, body image and QoL) were prospectively collected for all patients. Results, Forty-eight patients with a mean age of 43·9 years were included in the study. Vitiligo caused overall a moderate effect on patients' QoL with a 7·17 Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) mean score (out of 30) without correlation with gender. According to distribution, no or minimal (DLQI 0,1), mild (2,5), moderate (6,11) and severe (12,20) impairment of QoL was found in five (10%), 14 (29%), 18 (38%) and 11 (23%) patients, respectively. The mean perceived severity evaluated by the patients was 4·91 based on visual analogue scale from 0 to 10. The self-body image was influenced by gender, perceived severity and disease characteristics. Perceived severity and patient personality were predictors of QoL impairment. Perceived severity of vitiligo was explained mainly by the patients' personality and less significantly by objective criteria. Conclusions, Subjective as well as objective factors should be included in the assessment of disease severity and follow-up of patients with vitiligo. A simple perceived severity scale is useful in clinical practice. [source]