Premium
Personality and risk for serious mental illness
Author(s) -
SantestebanEcharri Olga,
MacQueen Glenda,
Goldstein Benjamin I.,
Wang JianLi,
Kennedy Sidney H.,
Bray Signe,
Lebel Catherine,
Addington Jean
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12921
Subject(s) - neuroticism , extraversion and introversion , conscientiousness , personality , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , anxiety , mood , big five personality traits , personality assessment inventory , risk factor , medicine , social psychology
Aim Certain personality traits may be related to an increased risk of developing a severe mental illness (SMI). This study examined differences in personality characteristics in a sample of youth at‐risk of SMI across different clinical stages compared to healthy controls (HCs). Method Personality characteristics were assessed with the NEO‐Five‐Factor Inventory‐3 for 41 non‐help seeking asymptomatic youth with risk factors for SMI (Stage 0), 52 youth with early mood and anxiety symptoms and distress (Stage 1a), 108 youth with an attenuated psychiatric syndrome (Stage 1b), and 42 HCs. Results Symptomatic participants scored significantly higher in neuroticism, and lower in extraversion, and conscientiousness compared to non‐symptomatic participants. Compared to published norms, symptomatic participants had ratings of extraversion and conscientiousness in the low range and those with attenuated psychiatric syndromes scored high on neuroticism. Conclusion The observed personality profiles of the symptomatic stages were similar to reported profiles for discrete disorders. Early identification of this profile could aid identification of those at risk of SMI.