Background: Over the past several decades, the relationship between personality traits and heart disease has interested clinicians and researchers alike.
Objective: The authors investigated personality disorders (PDs) and PD dimensional traits as prospective risk factors for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) follow-up study.
Method: In 1981, 244 community residents were examined for DSM-III PDs, and PD dimensional traits and were followed for incident CVD by 2004.
Results: Logistic-regression models with or without adjustment for potential confounders revealed that Cluster B PD and PD dimensional traits at baseline were consistently associated with increased risk of incident CVD by 2004. Post-hoc analysis also revealed that Cluster B PD and traits also predict CVD mortality.
Conclusion: Cluster B PDs and dimensional traits may be independent risk factors for incident CVD in the community.