Associations between personality and musculoskeletal disorders in the general population: A systematic review protocol

Shae E Quirk; Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen; Risto J Honkanen; Mohammadreza Mohebbi; Bianca E Kavanagh; Jeremi Heikkinen; Lana J Williams

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1079162

Associations between personality and musculoskeletal disorders in the general population: A systematic review protocol

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jan 25:13:1079162. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1079162. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Shae E Quirk^{1

2

3}, Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen^{2

3

4}, Risto J Honkanen^{2

3}, Mohammadreza Mohebbi⁵, Bianca E Kavanagh¹, Jeremi Heikkinen^{2

3}, Lana J Williams^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
² Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
³ Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit (KMRU), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
⁴ Mental Health and Wellbeing Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
⁵ Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Barwon Health, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC, Australia.

Abstract

There is growing evidence of the comorbidity between personality disorder (PD) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, there are no systematic reviews including critical appraisal and meta-analyses that identify, evaluate, and synthesize the available evidence on these associations. Therefore, we present here a protocol of the methodology to undertake a systematic review, with the objective to evaluate associations between PD and MSDs in epidemiological population-based studies. A systematic review of observational studies will be conducted. A complete search strategy will be developed in consultation with a health librarian. To identify peer-reviewed literature, the search will be translated for, and implemented in Medline Complete, CINAHL Complete, and PsycINFO via the EBSCOhost platform from 1990 to the present. Gray literature will be identified. Studies will be eligible if they examine general population participants aged 15 years and over. Associations of interest are the presence of threshold or positive screen according to the DSM-V/5 (groupings: any, Clusters A, B, C, specific PD) or ICD-10 for PD in relation to arthritis, back/neck conditions, fibromyalgia, osteopenia/osteoporosis, and/or "any" of these MSDs. Data extraction and critical appraisal will be conducted in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for systematic reviews of etiology and risk. The results from all studies will be presented in tables, text, and figures. A descriptive synthesis will present the characteristics of included studies, critical appraisal results, and descriptions of the main findings. Where appropriate, meta-analyses will be performed. If heterogeneity (e.g., I ² = 50%) is detected, subgroup/sensitivity analysis may be used to explore the possible sources. The systematic review does not require ethics approval. The proposed systematic review will strengthen the evidence base on what is known regarding associations between PD and MSDs by identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing the findings of existing observational studies including meta-analyses, where appropriate.

Keywords: MSD; comorbidity; musculoskeletal diseases; musculoskeletal disorders; personality disorder; systematic review.

Grants and funding

LJW was supported by a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship (1174060). HK-H and SEQ were supported by the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (7679) and the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation (5525 and 5799), Finland. JH was supported by the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (7679) and the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation (5525).