The role of temperament and character in the outcome of depressive mood in eating disorders

Teresa Rodríguez-Cano; Luis Beato-Fernandez; Luis Rojo-Moreno; Francisco J Vaz-Leal

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.009

The role of temperament and character in the outcome of depressive mood in eating disorders

Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1130-6. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.009. Epub 2014 Mar 2.

Authors

Teresa Rodríguez-Cano¹, Luis Beato-Fernandez², Luis Rojo-Moreno³, Francisco J Vaz-Leal⁴

Affiliations

¹ Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Ciudad Real, C/Obispo Torija s/n, 13005-Ciudad Real, Spain.
² Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Ciudad Real, C/Obispo Torija s/n, 13005-Ciudad Real, Spain. Electronic address: lbeato@terra.com.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Avda Blasco Ibañez nº 15, 46010-Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda. De Elbas s/n, 06017-Badajoz, Spain.

PMID: 24666713
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.009

Abstract

Objectives: The aims were to see which temperament and character dimensions were associated with depression, mainly with its outcome at two-year follow up in eating disorders (EDs).

Methods: Participants (N=151) were 44 Anorexia nervosa (AN), 55 Bulimia nervosa (BN) and 52 Eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) patients. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Rosenberg Self Esteem Questionnaire (RSE), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were administered.

Results: Depression at the beginning (t0) was severe in 22% of the cases. Harm Avoidance and Novelty Seeking had an effect on depressed mood at t0, mediated by Ineffectiveness. Responsibility (SD1) was associated with scores on the BDI at two-year follow up (β=-0.37, 95% CI -2.6, -0.6, p<0.01).

Conclusion: The evaluation of personality dimension in EDs has therapeutic and prognostic implications: To enhance self-efficacy and self-directness is crucial for good clinical outcome.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Anorexia Nervosa / psychology*
Body Mass Index
Bulimia Nervosa / psychology*
Character*
Depressive Disorder / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Temperament*
Young Adult