A Psychophysiological Examination of the Mutability of Type D Personality in a Therapeutic Trial

Abstract

Abstract. Identifying the associations between health and personality has been a focus for psychophysiological research. Type D personality is associated with predisposition to physical and psychological ill-health. This statistician-blind parallel-group controlled trial (intervention group vs. waiting list control group) examined the impact of Havening Techniques on the Type D constituents of negative affect (NA) and social inhibition (SI). One hundred twenty-five adult (18+ years) participants in the United Kingdom (72 females, 53 males) completed the Type D Scale-14 (DS14) measure of Type D personality at baseline (T1), 24-hours (T2), and at 1-month (T3). Forty participants in the treatment group received additional stress biomarker assessment of heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol. Type D caseness remained stable in the waiting list participants ( n = 57). In the treatment group ( n = 68); NA, SI, and total scores decreased from T1 to T2 ( p < .001, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively), and from T2 to T3 ( p = .004, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively), significantly transmuting to non-caseness ( p < .001 for T1 to T2; p = .025 for T2 to T3). Between T1 and T2, decreases in cortisol ( p < .001), diastolic blood pressure ( p < .001), and systolic blood pressure ( p < .001) were demonstrated. Heart rate fell nonsignificantly between T1 and T2 ( p = .063), but significantly from T1 to T3 ( p = .048). The findings of this study indicate the potential mutability of the psychophysiological illness-prone characteristics of Type D personality.

The power of touch: The effects of havening touch on subjective distress, mood, brain function, and psychological health.

“…This therapeutic method was first developed by Dr Ron Ruden (see Ruden, 2018) and is currently practiced worldwide with anecdotally impressive outcomes. However, very little empirical evidence exists to support its efficacy (Cizmic et al, 2018; Hodgson et al, 2020; Thandi et al, 2015). Indeed, to our knowledge, the present study represents the first empirical support for the importance of nurturing touch in Havening for psychological well-being.…”

“…Warm, friendly touches of appreciation make others feel esteemed and valued, activating several physiological mechanisms that promote well-being (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2017), and ameliorate negative perceptions of loneliness (Heatley Tejada et al, 2020). Such benefits of nurturing touch have been harnessed by an innovative psychological intervention known as Havening; a psychosensory technique that integrates psychological techniques, such as positive self-affirmations, with nurturing touch (Cizmic et al, 2018; Hodgson et al, 2020; Thandi et al, 2015). Havening uses the power of touch to cultivate healthy processing of traumatic events, distressing memories, and/or disturbing thoughts.…”

“…Cizmic et al (2018) found no support for Havening in reducing pain or narcotic consumption following joint arthroplasty. Most recently, Hodgson et al (2020) examined the impact of a single Havening session on individuals with Type D personality characteristics and reported a reduction in Type D scale scores and biomarkers of stress (blood pressure, heart rate, salivary cortisol) compared to a waiting list control group.…”