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. 2023 Mar 27:14:1061642.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1061642. eCollection 2023.

Psychopathic personality traits stress immunity and social potency moderate the relationship between emotional competence and cognitive functions in depression

Elena M D Schönthaler  1 , Nina Dalkner  1 , Karin Schwalsberger  1 , Eva Z Reininghaus  1 , Bernd Reininghaus  1
Affiliations

Psychopathic personality traits stress immunity and social potency moderate the relationship between emotional competence and cognitive functions in depression

Elena M D Schönthaler et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Psychopathic personality traits (PPT) and depression have both been shown to worsen emotional and cognitive functions. Moreover, PPT and depression share similar underlying neuronal circuits tapping into the emotional and cognitive domains. However, little is known about the influence of PPT on emotion and cognition in individuals with depression.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the correlative relationships and moderating role of PPT in the association between emotional competence and cognitive functions in individuals with depression.

Methods: Data from 373 individuals diagnosed with depression (158 males, 215 females) were examined within a cohort study. Subjects filled out validated questionnaires surveying PPT and emotional competences. Furthermore, a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was administered.

Results: Correlation analyses revealed a significant positive association between emotional competence and cognitive functions. Further, negative associations between emotional competence and the PPT "Blame Externalisation" and "Careless Nonplanfulness," as well as positive associations with psychopathic "Social Potency" and "Stress Immunity" were found. Moderation analyses indicated a significant positive influence of psychopathic "Stress Immunity" and "Social Influence" on the relationship between emotional competence and cognitive functions.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of integrating PPT in depression research. Considering PPT in depression treatment could also facilitate the therapeutic process by identifying individual traits as resilience-strengthening or potentially harmful factors for depressive symptomatology. This study represents a stepping stone for further research regarding the role of personality traits in psychiatric disorders and their treatment.

Keywords: affective disorders; cognitive functions; depression; emotional competence; personality; psychopathic personality traits; social potency; stress immunity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction plot of the simple slope analysis of psychopathic personality trait “Stress Immunity” in individuals with depression. m, mean; sd, standard deviation. Simple slope analysis of the moderating effect of “Stress Immunity” on the relationship between the Emotional Competence Score and the Cognitive Composite Score indicates a significant moderation effect at high (+1 sd above m; solid black line) and low (−1 sd below m; dotted black line) values of “Stress Immunity” (m is represented by the blue dashed line). Subsequent significance tests indicate a significant positive moderating effect for individuals with depression and high values in “Stress Immunity,” but not for individuals with depression and low values in “Stress Immunity.”
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction plot of the simple slope analysis of psychopathic personality trait “Social Potency” in individuals with depression. m, mean; sd, standard deviation. Simple slope analysis of the moderating effect of “Social Potency” on the relationship between the Emotional Competence Score and the Cognitive Composite Score indicates a significant moderation effect at high (+1 sd above m; solid black line) and low (−1 sd below m; dotted black line) values of “Social Potency” (m is represented by the blue dashed line). Subsequent significance tests indicate a significant positive moderating effect for individuals with depression and high values in “Social Potency,” but not for individuals with depression and low values in “Social Potency.”
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