Personality, Psychopathological Symptoms and Illness Perception in Mental Disorders: Results from Russian MMPI-2 Validation Study

Abstract

Introduction

According to common-sense model illness representation regulates her coping both in somatic and mental illnesses.

Objectives

As a personal reaction illness representation should partially depend not only on diagnosis and symptoms but also on personality. Aim is to identify direct and indirect effects of personality and psychopathological complaints in illness representation in mental disorders.

Methods

Eighty patients (20 males) from MMPI-2 validation sample (Butcher et al., 2001) filled revised version of Illness Perception Questionnaire and Symptom Checklist 90-R. Eleven patients met ICD-10 criteria for addictions, 28 – for mood disorders, 20 – for schizophrenia and schizotypal disorder, 21 – for acute stress reactions.

Results

According to moderation analysis, illness-related beliefs in mental disorders are relatively independent on clinical diagnosis and specific symptoms, but are associated with the overall level of psychopathological complaints. Regardless of the clinical group and complaints, depressive traits are associated with negative and emotional appraisal of illness. Social introversion and hypomanic activation serve as moderators of the relationship between complaints, illness duration and emotional representations.

Conclusions

Personality and overall level of psychopathological symptoms could be stronger predictor of illness-related beliefs than specific clinical factors in mental illness. Preliminary diagnostics of personality in mental illnesses could be used to reveal high-risk group for poor insight and non-compliance due to unrealistic beliefs. Research supported by the grant of President of the Russian Federation for the state support for young Russian scientists, project MK2193.2017.6.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.