Premium
Are abnormal premorbid personality traits associated with Alzheimer's disease? ‐ A case‐control study
Author(s) -
Nicholas Helen,
Moran Paul,
Foy Catherine,
Brown Richard G.,
Lovestone Simon,
Bryant Stephanie,
Boothby Harry
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2345
Subject(s) - psychology , personality , big five personality traits , disease , clinical psychology , association (psychology) , alzheimer's disease , psychiatry , developmental psychology , medicine , social psychology , psychotherapist
Objective To examine the association between premorbid personality traits, social networks and AD, using a case‐control design, and two informant‐based retrospective assessments of premorbid personality. Methods Cases consisted of 217 Subjects diagnosed with probable late onset Alzheimer's disease (160 females and 57 males). Recruitment was from both community and nursing home settings. Controls consisted of 76 unaffected siblings (44 females and 32 males) of patients with AD. Both cases and controls received informant ratings of premorbid personality. Results A selection of abnormal personality traits were over represented in the AD group. AD was particularly associated with Cluster A personality disorder traits (Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal). AD cases had correspondingly sparser social networks. Conclusions There is an association between abnormal personality traits and AD. Individuals with AD also appear to have had lower levels of social interactivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.