Evaluation of personality traits in panic disorder using Swedish universities Scales of Personality.

Personality factors may interact with development and expressions of panic disorder (PD). This study sought to identify differences in personality traits between patients with PD and healthy individuals and explore the relationships between personality domains and various demographic and clinical variables of PD. Personality traits were evaluated in 193 patients and 314 matched healthy subjects using the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP). All SSP traits, except for detachment and physical trait aggression, were significantly deviated in PD group, as compared to healthy subjects. The SSP factors of neuroticism and aggressiveness, but not extraversion, were significantly higher in PD group than in controls. More pronounced aberrations in personality traits were observed in PD with affective comorbidity. Only few demographic and clinical variables were associated with SSP scores in PD group. These results add to the evidence of maladaptive personality disposition in patients with PD, particularly high neuroticism and manifest somatic trait anxiety. Use of SSP proved to add clinically relevant information on personality traits in patients with PD.