The Impact of Type D Personality Traits on Quality of Life, Sleep, Anxiety, and Depression in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls

Abstract

Background Type D personality has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes and poor quality of life in many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of type D personality on pain, anxiety and depression, sleep quality, and quality of life in 50 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Material/Methods Fifty patients with fibromyalgia and 50 healthy controls were included in the study. Baseline and post-treatment evaluations encompassed a comprehensive battery of assessment tools: socio-demographic questionnaire, visual analog scale for pain, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36 Short Form Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The effects of type D personality traits on clinical parameters were determined by evaluating the participants with the D-Type Personality Scale (DS-14). Results Twelve participants (24%) in the control group and 30 patients (60%) in the fibromyalgia group had type D personality traits, and the difference was significant ( P <0.001). The Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory scores were significantly higher, and the SF-36 domains of vitality and mental health were significantly lower in fibromyalgia patients with type D personality ( P =0.023, P =0.036, P =0.002, P >0.001). Conclusions This study draws attention to the high prevalence of type D personality in patients with fibromyalgia and demonstrates that this personality trait has a negative impact on patients’ clinical parameters.