The aim of the present study is a characterisation of the personality dimensions of patients with anxiety disorder.
Method: Personality of 103 patients with different mixed ICD-10 diagnosis of anxiety disorders (79 females, 24 males, mean age: 38 +/- 12 years) were studied and compared to 183 healthy controls (117 females, 66 males, mean age: 35 +/- 14) using the 16 PF Cattell's Questionnaire and Cloninger's TCI. Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-evaluation of the Beck's Depression Scale were also applies.
Results: Levels of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in patients. It was found that patients with anxiety disorders scored higher in Cattell's following factors: O, Q4 and lower in: C, E, F, H, Q3 when compared to standard population norms. Following TCI scales differentiated the personality of patients when compared to the controls: A significant increase of all HA subscales, decrease of NS in females and NS1 in both female and male patients, increase in RD1 and decrease in RD3 in patients, decrease of P, SD, C (except C4 and C5 subscales) were observed.
Conclusion: Both TCI and 16 PF describe similar traits in the personality of patients with anxiety disorders, and are helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of therapy.