OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between personality traits and treatment outcomes in male Korean patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).
METHOD: We evaluated the personality traits and the severity of LUTS/BPH symptoms at baseline using the Korean versions of the 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-K) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), respectively. The IPSS was re-administered following a 12-week routine treatment regime, and we examined the relationship between treatment outcome and personality traits.
RESULTS: Of the 176 patients initially screened, 101 agreed to participate in the study. Of those, 93 (92.1%) completed the 12-week trial and the BFI-K. Neuroticism was associated with a significantly worse treatment response, whereas extraversion was associated with a significantly better treatment response, and openness was associated with a high responder rate. Agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness were associated with improved week-12 IPSS total scores; however, the results were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: We found an association between treatment response and personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion and openness in patients with LUTS/BPH. However, further studies with larger samples and an improved design are needed to support our findings.
Written by:
Koh JS, Ko HJ, Cho KJ, Kim JC, Lee SJ, Pae CU. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Eunpyeong Hospital, Seoul 122-913, Korea; Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Reference: Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2014 May 24. pii: S0163-8343(14)00122-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.05.015
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24973126
