Impact of Anal Fissure on Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Scientific literature on determining patterns of personality traits in patients with anal fissure is limited. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To determine whether certain common psychological traits are associated with anal fissure. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A case-control study was carried out in Spain in 2016–2017. Patients with acute or chronic idiopathic anal fissure (<i>n</i> = 35) and controls (<i>n</i> = 32) were recruited. The main outcome measures were those defined in the NEO-FFI questionnaire, validated in Spain, which was administered to all the participants. This questionnaire evaluates the following traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Three significant traits were noted: (1) greater neuroticism in the cases (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08–1.32, <i>p</i> < 0.001, AUC 0.77), (2) greater openness to experience in the controls (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83–0.98, <i>p</i> = 0.015, AUC 0.69), and (3) greater conscientiousness in the controls (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83–1.00, <i>p</i> = 0.049, AUC 0.69). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The cases mainly presented higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of openness to experience and conscientiousness. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results.

Sexuality, Quality of Life, Anxiety, Depression, and Anger in Patients with Anal Fissure. A Case–Control Study

“…AFs can heal either spontaneously or after therapy. They can recur as well as turn from acute into chronic ones [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Distribution by age shows a higher incidence in patients from 30 to 50 years old; women and men are both nearly equally affected [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].…”

“…They can recur as well as turn from acute into chronic ones [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Distribution by age shows a higher incidence in patients from 30 to 50 years old; women and men are both nearly equally affected [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The duration from the first symptoms until the start of treatment such as sphincterotomy lasted more than 10 months on average (Rank from 1 to 96 months) [ 1 ].…”

“…The duration from the first symptoms until the start of treatment such as sphincterotomy lasted more than 10 months on average (Rank from 1 to 96 months) [ 1 ]. Chronic AFs [ 2 ] can present secondary morphological changes, such as cryptitis, sentinel tags, hypertrophied anal papillae, or anal fistulae [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Secondary AF is associated with other pathologies including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and those induced by infectious agents such as syphilis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) [ 1 , 3 ].…”

“…Chronic AFs [ 2 ] can present secondary morphological changes, such as cryptitis, sentinel tags, hypertrophied anal papillae, or anal fistulae [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Secondary AF is associated with other pathologies including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and those induced by infectious agents such as syphilis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) [ 1 , 3 ]. The etiopathogenesis of AFs includes anal sphincter hypertonia, anal sphincter fibrosis, anal abuse, anal sexual practices, infection, ischemia, and traumata.…”

“…Signs and symptoms include anorectal pain, anal bleeding, anal pruritus, and constipation. AFs’ clinical evolution shows a tendency for recurrence or chronicity [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].…”