Our findings provide new evidence for a persistent DM deficit with no learning effect in AD. Despite the deficit, alcohol-dependent patients can achieve LTA. STA patients perceive higher levels of stress and use non-adaptive coping strategies. We propose that the more adaptive personality profile of LTA patients contributes to the compensation of the trait-like DM deficit in alcoholism. These compensatory features represent promising new targets for preventive measures and therapeutic interventions in AD.

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Temperament and character factors are strongly related to the developmental, clinical, and treatment aspects of alcohol dependence. This study had the aim of revealing the underlying personality structure and individual differences in the symptoms of alcohol dependence measured by multiple severity indicators. Patients with alcohol dependence exhibited higher levels of novelty seeking and harm avoidance, and lower levels of persistence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. Especially novelty seeking was connected with more severe alcohol dependence. These characteristics could be useful targets of interventions and Temperament and Character Inventory is therefore a useful measurement to identify patients with more severe alcohol-related problems.

Background Multiple psychological factors of suicidal behaviour have been identified so far; however, little is known about state-dependent alterations and the interplay of the most prominent components in a suicidal crisis. Thus, the combined effect of particular personality characteristics and decision-making performance was observed within individuals who recently attempted suicide during a major depressive episode. Methods Fifty-nine medication-free major depressed patients with a recent suicide attempt (within 72 h) and forty-five healthy control individuals were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Temperament and character factors, impulsivity and decision-making performance were assessed. Statistical analyses aimed to explore between-group differences and the most powerful contributors to suicidal behaviour during a depressive episode. Results Decision-making and personality differences (i.e. impulsivity, harm avoidance, self-directedness, cooperativeness and transcendence) were observed between the patient and the control group. Among these variables, decision-making, harm avoidance and self-directedness were shown to have the strongest impact on a recent suicide attempt of individuals with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder according to the results of the binary logistic regression analysis. The model was significant, adequately fitted the data and correctly classified 79.8% of the cases. Conclusions The relevance of deficient decision-making, high harm avoidance and low self-directedness was modelled in the case of major depressed participants with a recent suicide attempt; meaning that these individuals can be described with the myopia for future consequences, a pessimistic, anxious temperament; and a character component resulting in the experience of aimlessness and helplessness. Further studies that use a within-subject design should identify and confirm additional characteristics specific to the suicidal mind.

IntroductionTemperament and character factors and specific impulse control-related personality traits are connected to the developmental and clinical aspects of alcohol use disorder (AUD).Objectives/aimsTo reveal the underlying personality structure of individual differences in the symptom severity of AUD. Therefore temperament and character, impulsivity and aggression were assessed in relation to alcohol addiction severity.MethodsSixty-three patients with AUD were involved. Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised was used to quantify temperament and character dimensions. Impulsivity was assessed by the Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS) and aggression by the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). To determine symptom severity of AUD the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised (MAC-R) and the number of DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms were registered. To analyze the connections between symptom severity indicators and personality factors Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were applied, p < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsSADQ (r = 0.290), AUDIT (r = 0.345), MAC-R (r = 0.504) and the DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms (Spearman rho = 0.271) correlated positively with novelty-seeking temperament factor. SADQ (r = 0.262) and AUDIT (r = 0.293) scores correlated positively with BIS. Furthermore SADQ (r = 0.382), AUDIT (r = 0.318), MAC-R (r = 0.416) correlated positively with BPAQ.ConclusionsNovelty-seeking, impulsivity and aggression as indicators of impulse control have different theoretical backgrounds but a common root. This study has revealed that the adverse consequences of lower impulse control can lead to more severe symptoms of AUD. These connections between impulse control and the symptomatology could contribute to a better understanding of the clinical complexity of AUD.