Personality and Psychopathology in Schizophrenia: The Association between Personality Traits and Symptoms

Abstract

Research has indicated that stable individual differences in personality exist among persons with schizophrenia, and that they likely predate the onset of illness. Little is known, however, about whether individual differences in personality are related to levels of psychopathology. This study tested the hypotheses that levels of Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism are associated with symptomatology. Accordingly, measures of these dimensions of personality and of symptomatology were obtained simultaneously for 113 male subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Next, subjects were characterized as having high or low levels on each personality dimension and their scores on the five components of the Positive Negative Syndrome Scale were compared using multivariate and univariate procedures. Results indicate that extroverted subjects had lower levels of Positive, Negative, and Emotional Discomfort symptoms, and higher levels of Excitement symptoms than introverted subjects. Subjects with higher levels of Neuroticism had higher levels of Positive and Emotional Discomfort symptoms than subjects with lower levels of Neuroticism. No differences in symptoms were found among subjects with higher versus lower levels of Psychoticism. Results suggest individual differences in personality are associated with psychopathology in schizophrenia and may help further explain the heterogeneity widely observed in this disorder.

Dopamine D4 receptor 48-bp repeat polymorphism: no association with response to antipsychotic treatment, but association with catatonic schizophrenia

“…Lysaker et al 28 point out that stable individual differences in personality exist among persons with schizophrenia. It may be speculated whether such personality differences may be linked with dopamine receptor variants.…”

Associations between Delusion Proneness and Personality Structure in Non-Clinical Participants: Comparison between Young and Elderly Samples

“…Previous studies have reported an association between personality and psychosis [29][30][31][32][33] . However, one major shortcoming with these studies is that they have included 'psychosis' or 'schizophrenia' and did not examine specifi c aspects (e.g.…”

Putting the person first : an examination of thought disorder and personality heterogeneity in schizophrenia.

“…It has also been linked to higher levels of disability (Herran et al, 2006) and passive and avoidant coping strategies (Lysaker et al, 1999). There is also some evidence to suggest that N may possibly be related to emotional discomfort symptoms (Lysaker et al, 1999;Lysaker& Taylor, 2007). High levels of E have been associated with higher QoL ratings , lower negative symptoms Lysaker et al, 1999), and lower emotional discomfort symptoms (Lysaker et al, 1999;Lysaker& Taylor, 2007).…”

“…There is also some evidence to suggest that N may possibly be related to emotional discomfort symptoms (Lysaker et al, 1999;Lysaker& Taylor, 2007). High levels of E have been associated with higher QoL ratings , lower negative symptoms Lysaker et al, 1999), and lower emotional discomfort symptoms (Lysaker et al, 1999;Lysaker& Taylor, 2007). In one study high extraversion was found to predict better social functioning as well as increased social support seeking , but also poorer work performance (Lysaker et al, 1998).…”

“…Higher levels of N are associated with lower QoL ratings (Hansson et al, 2001, more deficient social functioning Lysaker& Davis, 2004), and poorer work performance (Lysaker et al, 1998). It has also been linked to higher levels of disability (Herran et al, 2006) and passive and avoidant coping strategies (Lysaker et al, 1999). There is also some evidence to suggest that N may possibly be related to emotional discomfort symptoms (Lysaker et al, 1999;Lysaker& Taylor, 2007).…”