Effect of serotonergic antidepressant therapy on temperament and character scales in patients with chronic tension‐type headache

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess a group of patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and control subjects using the personality questionnaire proposed by Cloninger and to determine possible changes in the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) patterns of CTTH patients after therapy with serotonergic antidepressants. Forty-five patients with CTTH filled out the TCI and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after 4-month prophylactic therapy with serotonergic antidepressants. A total of 50 age-, sex-and education level-matched healthy subjects were selected as a control group. During the pretreatment period patients were found to have higher harm avoidance and lower self-directedness scores than healthy comparison subjects. During the post-treatment period, although harm avoidance scores decreased and selfdirectedness scores increased, harm avoidance scores were still significantly higher and selfdirectedness scores significantly lower in CTTH patients than in controls. After using BDI score and age as covariates at the post-treatment period, harm avoidance scores were still higher in patients with CTTH while self-directedness scores did not differ between CTTH patients and controls. These findings suggest state and trait dependence of harm avoidance, and strong state dependence of self-directedness scores in CTTH patients. When interpreting data regarding personality measured by the TCI in CTTH patients, the effects of depressive symptomatology should be taken into account.

Temperament, character and serotonin activity in the human brain: a positron emission tomography study based on a general population cohort

“…However, some evidence indicates that treatment of affective disorders with tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, drugs that increase the levels of synaptic serotonin, also increases ' self-directedness ' (Black & Sheline, 1997 ;Allgulander et al 1998 ;Agosti & McGrath, 2002 ;Hirano et al 2002 ;Joyce et al 2003 ;Boz et al 2007). One study has even indicated that this increase in ' self-directedness ' has also predictive value for changes in depressive symptoms as measured with BDI (Mazza et al 2009).…”

“…In addition to HA, ' self-directedness ' has often been correlated with serotonergic markers (Allgulander et al 1998 ;Peirson et al 1999 ;Boz et al 2007). Results from these studies should be seen as circumstantial evidence for the hypothesis and inconsistencies remain, as they do in genetic studies on HA and the serotonin system (Lesch et al 1996 ;Schinka et al 2004 ;Sen et al 2004 ;Munafò et al 2009).…”

“…Ever since this association was hypothesized it has been the subject of numerous studies, including those using indirect methods to define serotonergic activity such as platelet imipramine-binding tests (Pfohl et al 1990), platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2 receptor sensitivity tests (Peirson et al 1999), monoamine challenging tests (Gerra et al 2000), urinary monoamine excretion tests (Curtin et al 1997), cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) assays (Limson et al 1991) and clinical trials with antidepressants (Allgulander et al 1998 ;Boz et al 2007). In addition to HA, ' self-directedness ' has often been correlated with serotonergic markers (Allgulander et al 1998 ;Peirson et al 1999 ;Boz et al 2007).…”

Assessment of Temperament and Character Profile with Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Acne

“…They also tend to be inhibited and shy in social situations (27). People with high HA respond to stressful events with a higher proportion of depressive symptoms and expect a dangerous situation even in the absence of danger (5,25).…”

Effects of paroxetine on emotional functioning and treatment awareness: a 4-week randomized placebo-controlled study in healthy clinicians

“…The three dimensions of character (selfdirectedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence) mature in adulthood and influence personal and social effectiveness by insight learning about self concepts. The TCI has been shown to be sensitive to serotonergic antidepressants in psychiatric and healthy volunteers (Boz et al 2007;Mörtberg et al 2007;Agosti and McGrath 2002;Tse and Bond 2001).…”