Journal Article

A Type A and Type D Combined Personality Typology in Essential Hypertension and Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Associations with Demographic, Psychological, Clinical, and Lifestyle Indicators

Sarini, Marcello, Fattirolli, Francesco, Riccobono, Salvatore Pio, Scrignaro, Marta, Magrin, Maria Elena, Steca, Patrizia, Vecchio, Luca, Greco, Andrea, D’Addario, Marco, Pancani, Luca, Cesana, Francesca, Miglioretti, Massimo, Giannattasio, Cristina, Monzani, Dario

2016

Overview

Many studies have focused on Type A and Type D personality types in the context of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but nothing is known about how these personality types combine to create new profiles. The present study aimed to develop a typology of Type A and Type D personality in two groups of patients affected by and at risk for coronary disease. The study involved 711 patients: 51.6% with acute coronary syndrome, 48.4% with essential hypertension (mean age = 56.4 years; SD = 9.7 years; 70.7% men). Cluster analysis was applied. External variables, such as socio-demographic, psychological, lifestyle, and clinical parameters, were assessed. Six groups, each with its own unique combined personality profile scores, were identified: Type D, Type A-Negatively Affected, Not Type A-Negatively Affected, Socially Inhibited-Positively Affected, Not Socially Inhibited, and Not Type A-Not Type D. The Type A-Negatively Affected cluster and, to a lesser extent, the Type D cluster, displayed the worst profile: namely higher total cardiovascular risk index, physical inactivity, higher anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem, optimism, and health status. Identifying combined personality profiles is important in clinical research and practice in cardiovascular diseases. Practical implications are discussed.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acute Coronary Syndrome - psychology / Acute coronary syndromes / Aged / Alcohol / Alcohol use / Analysis / Angina pectoris / Anxiety / Anxiety - psychology / Behavior / Biology and Life Sciences / Cardiac patients / Cardiology / Cardiovascular disease / Cardiovascular diseases / Cluster analysis / Clusters / Demographic aspects / Demographic variables / Demographics / Depression - psychology / Exercise / Female / Gender differences / Health risks / Heart attacks / Heart diseases / Hospitals / Hostility / Humans / Hypertension / Inhibition (psychology) / Intervention / Intracranial Hypotension - psychology / Life Style / Lifestyles / Male / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mental depression / Middle Aged / Mortality / Patients / Personality / Physical activity / Psychological aspects / Psychological factors / Psychology / Researchers / Risk Factors / Sedentary Behavior / Self Concept / Social Adjustment / Social Behavior / Social Sciences / Stress, Psychological - psychology / Studies / Type A Personality / Type B personality / Type D Personality / Typology