Personality profiles in patients referred for chest pain. Investigation with emphasis on panic disorder patients

Psychosomatics. 2000 May-Jun;41(3):269-76. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.41.3.269.

Abstract

Patients (N = 199) referred to cardiac outpatient investigation because of chest pain were assessed with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-4). Thirty-nine percent scored positive for any personality disorder. Borderline and avoidant personality disorders were found significantly more often in patients with panic disorder (PD) (n = 72) than in patients without PD (12.5% vs. 2.5%, 23.7% vs. 7.7%, respectively). In PD patients, the presence of any personality disorder was significantly associated with higher scores of self-reported anxiety-agoraphobia symptoms, neuroticism, and the presence of suicidal thoughts. These results suggest that personality pathology is important in a subgroup of patients presenting with chest pain and that these patients may require more extensive treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chest Pain / psychology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Panic Disorder / psychology*
  • Patient Care Team
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis
  • Personality Disorders / psychology*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Referral and Consultation*