Prevalence and relevance of Type D personality in fibromyalgia

H. van Middendorp, M.B. Kool, S. van Beugen, J. Denollet, M.A. Lumley, R. Geenen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective
Distressed (Type D) personality, combining high negative affectivity and social inhibition, is linked to poor health in various populations. Because patients with fibromyalgia experience high negative affect and show signs of social inhibition, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of Type D’s components and their associations with health in an additive (worse health with both components present) or synergistic way (components amplifying each other’s effects).
Method
Type D personality and physical and mental health were assessed online by 558 patients with self-reported fibromyalgia (94% women, age 47±11 (21–77) years) by the Type D Scale-14 and RAND-36 Health Status Inventory.
Results
Using the standard cutscores, Type D personality was present in 56.5% of patients. Negative affectivity alone and combined with social inhibition was associated with worse mental and, more limited, physical health, but no interactive (synergistic) associations were found.
Conclusions
Type D personality in fibromyalgia exceeds prevalence estimates in general, cardiovascular and chronic pain populations. Some indication of an additive but not of a synergistic effect was found, particularly for mental health, with clearly the largest associations for negative affectivity. The high prevalence of Type D’s components may have specific treatment implications.
Keywords: Chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, Negative affectivity, Personality Type D
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)66–72
JournalGeneral Hospital Psychiatry: Psychiatry, Medicine and Primary Care
Volume39
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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