A systematic review of personality temperament models related to somatoform disorder with main focus on meta-analysis of Cloninger's theory components

Abstract

The systematic review aims to identify four personality temperament models related to somatoform disorder with the main focus on the meta-analysis of temperaments and characters in Cloninger's theory. The literature search was performed on PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and ProQuest for all articles published in English from January 1990 to April 2019. Due to heterogeneity, pooled estimates of the standard mean difference between cases and controls were calculated using the random-effects model. Based on our inclusion criteria, 14 studies were identified, 7 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The results show that there is a significant difference between cases and controls with regard to harm avoidance (HA) ( z = 5.322, P < 0.001), self-directedness ( z = −4.719, P < 0.001), and self-transcendence ( z = 2.848, P = 0.004). Compared to controls, HA and self-transcendence were higher and self-directedness was lower in cases. With regard to other subscales, there was no difference between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The publication bias was not seen ( P > 0.05 for Egger statistics). Up to now, very few studies have been focused on the relationship between personality temperament models and somatoform disorder. Among the components of the Cloninger's model, the poor self-directedness along with the abnormally high self-transcendence and HA is the personality component related to the somatoform disorder. Thus, Cloninger's model may potentially draw a personality profile for vulnerability to somatoform disorder. Given the limited number of studies available, future studies may challenge the results of the present study.

Comprehensive meta-analysis of associations between temperament and character traits in Cloninger’s psychobiological theory and mental disorders

“…Although the present study provides new information about the association between temperament and SSD, our recent comprehensive review explains the relationship between temperament/character traits and somatoform disorders. 33 …”

Functional Somatic Symptoms

“…Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/book/45782/chapter/400200402 by Rijksuniversiteit Groningen user on 18 April 2024 Similar questions apply to the positive correlations found between personality characteristics like neuroticism, harm avoidance, or lower agreeableness and somatization or somatoform disorders (Noyes et al, 2001;Rezaei et al, 2020). The chronic experience of FSS shares many features with personality disorders (Bass & Murphy, 1995) in terms of their developmental origin, persistent nature, disruptive impact on social functioning, and chronic course.…”

Construct and criterion validity of the HiTOP spectra to predict dimensional and categorical somatization in a large non-western sample

“…Causal psychobiological mechanisms involved in somatoform syndromes include autonomic physiological arousal, the endocrine and immune systems, monoamine acids and neurotransmitters, brain mechanisms, and temperamental personality traits 12 – 17 . The association between some temperamental personality theories proposed by Akiskal et al 18 , Cloninger 19 , 20 , and Lara et al 21 , and somatoform diagnoses or Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) raised by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has already been investigated in some studies 14 – 17 . The five depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments raised by Akiskal et al 18 , are the affective components that were originally formulated for affective disorders.…”

“…Cloninger's model suggests four temperament traits include novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, reward-dependence, and persistence 19 , 20 . Recent meta-analytic reviews have addressed strong associations between some temperaments such as harm avoidance and somatization 14 , 15 . Six emotional temperaments, including volition, anger, inhibition, sensitivity, control, and coping, along with twelve affective temperaments were components of Lara's dynamic theory 21 .…”

“…Another report attempts to address the placement of dimensional personality dysfunction within the HiTOP framework 26 . Although some studies in non-Western samples such as Iran have tried to test the construct validity of PID-5 maladaptive domains 27 – 30 , none of the studies included a large non-clinical sample as well as cases with SSRD 14 , 15 . Despite the present sample being from the west of Iran and this can make it difficult to generalize the results to other non-Western contexts, it is a unique effort to achieve advanced objectives.…”