Personality traits and coping strategies in recent-onset psychosis: Associations with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning

Matej Djordjevic; Vera Brink; Klaas J Wardenaar; Anne Neeltje Scholte-Stalenhoef; Ellen Visser; PROGR-S Investigators; PHAMOUS Investigators; Catheleine van Driel; Wim Veling

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.10.010

Personality traits and coping strategies in recent-onset psychosis: Associations with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning

Schizophr Res. 2022 Dec:250:143-151. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.10.010. Epub 2022 Nov 18.

Authors

Matej Djordjevic¹, Vera Brink², Klaas J Wardenaar³, Anne Neeltje Scholte-Stalenhoef⁴, Ellen Visser⁵; PROGR-S Investigators; PHAMOUS Investigators; Catheleine van Driel⁶, Wim Veling⁷

Collaborators

Henderikus Knegtering⁸, Edith Liemburg⁵, Stynke Castelein⁹, Agna A Bartels-Velthuis¹⁰, Richard Bruggeman¹¹, Frederike Jörg¹², Gerdina H M Pijnenborg¹³

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.djordjevic@umcg.nl.
² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, ZiekenhuisGroep Twente, Zilvermeeuw 1, 7609 PP Almelo, the Netherlands.
⁵ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁶ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: cmg.driel@umcg.nl.
⁷ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: w.veling@umcg.nl.
⁸ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Lentis Research, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁹ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Lentis Research, Hereweg 80, 9725 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
¹⁰ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.a.bartels@umcg.nl.
¹¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: r.bruggeman@umcg.nl.
¹² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: f.jorg@umcg.nl.
¹³ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: g.h.m.pijnenborg@rug.nl.

PMID: 36410291
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.10.010

Abstract

Background: Personality and coping may be related to symptom severity and psychosocial functioning in patients with recent-onset psychosis. This study aimed to investigate associations of personality traits and coping strategies with concurrent and follow-up symptom severity and functioning in those patients, and identify whether coping mediates relations between personality and symptoms or functioning.

Methods: At baseline, 527 recent-onset psychosis patients (73 % male, mean age = 28 years) received assessments on personality (Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness - Five-Factor Inventory), coping (Utrecht Coping List), symptom severity (Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale) and psychosocial functioning (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale). Of those, 149 also received symptom and functioning assessments at follow-up. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess cross-sectional associations of personality and coping with symptoms and functioning at baseline. Longitudinal associations of baseline personality and coping with follow-up symptomatic remission and functioning were analyzed with multivariable linear and binary logistic regression analyses, respectively. Lastly, it was investigated whether coping mediated associations between personality and symptoms or functioning.

Results: Higher baseline Agreeableness (B = -0.019, [95%CI: -0.031; -0.007]) and Neuroticism (B = -0.017, [95%CI: -0.028; -0.006]) were associated with lower concurrent symptom severity. Reassuring Thoughts were associated with better functioning at baseline (B = 0.833, [95%CI: 0.272; 1.393]). Neither personality nor coping were associated with follow-up symptomatic remission or functioning. Coping did not mediate associations between personality and symptoms or functioning.

Conclusion: Only the coping strategy Reassuring Thoughts is associated with better baseline functioning in patients with recent-onset psychosis. Personality traits seem to have limited clinically relevant relations with symptom severity or functioning.

Keywords: Coping; Functioning; Personality; Psychosis; Recent-onset; Symptom.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Personality
Personality Disorders
Personality Inventory
Psychotic Disorders* / psychology