Personality factors in recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients: a preliminary investigation with the NEO-FFI scale

Abstract

This article describes some prevalent personality dimensions of recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. A sample of 33 female recently diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) was assessed with the NEO-FFI personality scale. Beck depression (BDI) and anxiety (BAI) scales were also used. No significant levels of anxiety or depression were identified in this group. As for personality factors, conscientiousness was the most common factor found, whereas openness to experience was the least observed. Literature on the relationship between personality and MS is scarce and there are no Brazilian studies on this subject. Some personality traits might complicate or facilitate the experience of living with a chronic, disabling and uncertain neurological condition such as MS.Keywords: multiple sclerosis, personality, NEO-FFI. RESUMOEste artigo descreve alguns traços prevalentes de personalidade em pacientes com esclerose múltipla recém-diagnosticada. Uma amostra de 33 mulheres recentemente diagnosticadas com a forma clínica remitente-recorrente da esclerose múltipla (EMRR) foi avaliada com a escala de personalidade NEO-FFI. As escalas de Beck de depressão e de ansiedade também foram usadas. Não foram identificados níveis significativos de ansiedade ou depressão neste grupo. Em relação aos fatores de personalidade, a conscienciosidade se mostrou como o traço mais prevalente, enquanto a abertura à experiência foi o menos observado nesta amostra. A literatura acerca desta relação esclerose múltipla-personalidade é pouco expressiva e não há estudos brasileiros sobre este tema. Acredita-se que alguns traços de personalidade possam dificultar ou facilitar a experiência de estar vivendo com uma condição neurológica crônica, incapacitante e de curso incerto como a esclerose múltipla.Palavras-chave: esclerose múltipla, personalidade, NEO-FFI.

Personality traits of patients with multiple sclerosis and their correlation with anxiety and depression levels: A cross‐sectional case–control study

“…Our findings are in line with the Lima et al. (2015) study in Brazil. Conversely, Hawkes (2005) found a somewhat different finding while examining impulsiveness or risk‐disregarding behavior in MS patients.…”

The Effect of Type D Personality on Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Personality changes may occur in patients with MS (9,27). Demyelinating lesions are suggested to give rise to the personality changes by affecting the frontal-subcortical circuits and limbic structures (28).…”

“…The researchers reported that executive control predicted the presence of these personality abnormalities. Lima et al (27) reported that conscientiousness was the most common, whereas openness to experience was the least observed personality factor in 33 females recently diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS by using the NEO five-factor inventory personality scale. Gazioğlu et al (30) assessed the characteristics of a personality in MS patients by temperament and character inventory and found increased harm avoidance and decreased self-directedness levels in patients compared to healthy subjects.…”

The influence of personality traits and coping strategies on the quality of life of patients with relapsing-remitting type of multiple sclerosis

“…It is consistent with the findings that higher conscientiousness implies better organisational skills, deliberation and healthy behaviour, while lower conscientiousness correlates with impulsiveness and risky behaviour (smoking, alcohol etc.). This is important considering the results of a previous research that shows that smoking had been both a risk factor for developing MS and a cause of accelerating the progression of the illness (27,28).…”