BACKGROUND: Type D personality is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular patients and a vulnerability factor for distress in the general population. Because representative community studies are rare, we sought to determine the prevalence of type D personality and its relationship with demographic characteristics, different features of mental disorders, cardiovascular risk factors, health behavior, endothelial function and cardiovascular biomarkers in the general population. METHODS: The prevalence of type D personality and its correlates were analyzed cross-sectionally in a population-based sample of 5,000 Mid-Europeans aged 35-74 years from the Gutenberg Health Study. RESULTS: The prevalence of type D personality was 22.2% without remarkable differences in sex distribution. Type D subjects were characterized by lower socioeconomic status, lack of a partnership, increased depression, anxiety, depersonalization and health care utilization. Despite its strong association with mental disorders, type D personality emerged as psychometrically distinct. Although type D personality was independently associated with coronary heart disease (OR = 1.54, p = 0.044), no associations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors were found independently from depression or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Although type D personality is strongly associated with depression, anxiety, impaired mental and somatic health status, and increased health care utilization, the type D construct seems to comprise dysfunctional personality patterns not covered by depression and anxiety scales. Beyond these associations, the pathways of the cardiotoxic impact of type D personality remain to be elucidated. There is a need for prospective population studies on potential links between type D personality and cardiac disease.
BACKGROUND: Type D personality is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular patients and a vulnerability factor for distress in the general population. Because representative community studies are rare, we sought to determine the prevalence of type D personality and its relationship with demographic characteristics, different features of mental disorders, cardiovascular risk factors, health behavior, endothelial function and cardiovascular biomarkers in the general population. METHODS: The prevalence of type D personality and its correlates were analyzed cross-sectionally in a population-based sample of 5,000 Mid-Europeans aged 35-74 years from the Gutenberg Health Study. RESULTS: The prevalence of type D personality was 22.2% without remarkable differences in sex distribution. Type D subjects were characterized by lower socioeconomic status, lack of a partnership, increased depression, anxiety, depersonalization and health care utilization. Despite its strong association with mental disorders, type D personality emerged as psychometrically distinct. Although type D personality was independently associated with coronary heart disease (OR = 1.54, p = 0.044), no associations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors were found independently from depression or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Although type D personality is strongly associated with depression, anxiety, impaired mental and somatic health status, and increased health care utilization, the type D construct seems to comprise dysfunctional personality patterns not covered by depression and anxiety scales. Beyond these associations, the pathways of the cardiotoxic impact of type D personality remain to be elucidated. There is a need for prospective population studies on potential links between type D personality and cardiac disease.
Authors: Johan Denollet; Fetene B Tekle; Pepijn H van der Voort; Marco Alings; Krista C van den Broek Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2013-09-25 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Matthias Michal; Jörg Wiltink; Yvonne Kirschner; Philipp S Wild; Thomas Münzel; Francisco M Ojeda; Tanja Zeller; Renate B Schnabel; Karl Lackner; Maria Blettner; Isabella Zwiener; Manfred E Beutel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-08-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Matthias Nuebling; Andreas Seidler; Susan Garthus-Niegel; Ute Latza; Mandy Wagner; Janice Hegewald; Falk Liebers; Sylvia Jankowiak; Isabella Zwiener; Philipp S Wild; Stephan Letzel Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-06-04 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Matthias Michal; Jörg Wiltink; Yvonne Kirschner; Astrid Schneider; Philipp S Wild; Thomas Münzel; Maria Blettner; Andreas Schulz; Karl Lackner; Norbert Pfeiffer; Stefan Blankenberg; Regine Tschan; Inka Tuin; Manfred E Beutel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-05 Impact factor: 3.240