Self-perceived personality characteristics in seasonal affective disorder and their implications for severity of depression

The personality traits Neuroticism and Extraversion may be involved in the development of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, the impact of personality traits on SAD severity and whether such self-reported traits fluctuate with season is unknown. We investigated the association between Neuroticism, as acquired in a symptom-free phase and depression severity in individuals with SAD and seasonal changes in personality traits in individuals with SAD compared to healthy controls. Twenty-nine individuals diagnosed with SAD and thirty demographically matched controls completed the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised and the Major Depression Inventory twice: in summer when individuals with SAD were symptom-free, and in winter when they experienced SAD symptoms.

Source: Psychiatry Research - February 5, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Liv Vadskj ær Hjordt, Vibeke H. Dam, Brice Ozenne, Ida Hageman, Brenda McMahon, Erik Lykke Mortensen, Gitte M. Knudsen, Dea Siggaard Stenbæk Source Type: research