Severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms is related to self-directedness character trait in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the psychobiological Temperament and Character model of personality on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, as well as the relation of temperament and/or character dimensions on the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Methods: Fifty-four subjects diagnosed with OCD, were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale and the Hamilton Rating Scales for depression and anxiety.

Results: Compared with controls, OCD subjects displayed increased harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness. Low self-directedness and high Hamilton depression scores were associated with increased severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Conclusion: The Temperament and Character profile of OCD patients characterized in the present study was in agreement with previous reports using the same personality model and can be linked to some of their behavioral features. Furthermore, our data provides support of the influence that some personality traits may have on the severity of OCD symptoms.