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Personality factors and cognitive functioning in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders
De Vroege,Lars Woudstra-de Jong,Jarinne E. Videler,Arjan C. Kop,Willem J.
De Vroege,Lars
Woudstra-de Jong,Jarinne E.
Videler,Arjan C.
Kop,Willem J.
Abstract
Objective Somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) are often complicated by cognitive symptoms, including reduced information processing speed, memory, and planning. Depression has been related to poor cognitive functioning in SSRD, but the role of underlying personality factors is poorly understood. This study investigates the association between personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) with cognitive functioning in patients with SSRD. Methods Data from 366 patients with SSRD from a tertiary care expert center (mean age = 42.1 years (SD = 13.4), 59.6% women) were analyzed using a cross-sectional design. Neuropsychological assessments included measures of information processing speed, memory, attention, and executive function. Personality factors were assessed using the NEO-FFI and depressive symptoms using the PHQ-9. Results Regression analyses showed associations between neuroticism with poorer performance on visual memory (B = −0.09, SE = 0.04, β = −0.14, p = .019), and planning (B = −0.09. SE = 0.02, β = −0.23, p < .001). Extraversion was also inversely associated with visual memory (B = −0.13, SE = 0.05, β = −0.18, p = .011) and planning (B = −0.07, SE = 0.03, β = −0.17, p = .021) and openness was associated with better visual memory (B = 0.17, SE = 0.05, β = 0.19, p = .002). These associations were attenuated but remained significant after adjusting for depressive symptoms. Conclusion Neuroticism, extraversion, and low openness were associated with lower cognitive functioning (particularly planning and visual memory) in patients with SSRD, which remained significant after taking depressive symptoms into account.
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Date
2022
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Keywords
ANXIETY, Cognitive functioning, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, EXTROVERSION, Information processing speed, NEUROTICISM, Neuropsychology, Neuroticism, PERFORMANCE, PHQ-9, Personality, SOMATOFORM, SOMATOSENSORY AMPLIFICATION, Somatic symptom and related disorders, TRAITS
Citation
De Vroege, L, Woudstra-de Jong, J E, Videler, A C & Kop, W J 2022, 'Personality factors and cognitive functioning in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders', Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 163, 111067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111067