The Comparison Study of Temperament and Character in Subjects with Panic Disorder

Abstract

Objectives: There were many studies assessed the relationship between Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and mood and anxiety disorders. This study investigated biogenetic temperament and character trait in panic disorder and assessed the correlation between the severity of panic disorder and TCI score. Methods: The subjects were 31 patients who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder and 40 controls. All subjects completed Temperament and Character Inventory. The patients completed self-report version of panic disorder severity scale, extended anxiety sensitivity index, Albany Panic and phobia Questionnaire, Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire, Body Sensations Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The panic disorder patients showed significantly high harm avoidance, reward dependence, and cooperativeness and low novelty seeking compared with healthy controls. The high harm avoidance had significant effects on the severity of panic symptoms. Conclusion: We suggest that high harm avoidance, reward dependence, and cooperativeness and low novelty seeking are biogenetic temperament and character pattern of panic disorder patients.