M. Impallomeni, F. Palusci, C. Petruzzi, E. Daneluzzo, A. Rossi - Vol. 7, Giugno 2001, num.2
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Variazioni nelle configurazioni temperamentali
in soggetti con disturbo di panico trattati con sertralina
Temperament trait changes in panic disorder patients treated with sertraline
Objective
Treatment with serotonine reuptake inhibitor (SRI) has been demonstrated
to change specific personality traits: harm avoidance, social dominance and
social hostility. This effect was shown in different diagnostic group, i.e.
depressive, obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders. Here we
studied changes of temperament in patients with panic disorder after treatment
with sertraline.
Method
From a series of out-patients affected by anxiety disorder, we selected,
through a retrospective chart review, 62 patients with panic disorder treated
with sertraline. TPQ scores were used as measures of temperament traits, at
baseline and after six months of treatment.
Results
At follow-up, the reduction of harm avoidance score was not significant
(weak trend), on the other hand, novelty seeking significantly increased.
In order to take into account the relative interactions among the main temperamental
dimensions, we studied their baseline (i.e., pre-treatment) configurations.
Among the four empirically determined clusters, the "cautious/sensitive"
type showed a significant reduction in harm avoidance scores.
Conclusions
Sertraline treatment seems to cause changes in personality of panic disorder
patients, more specifically, it appears to change some intercorrelations between
temperament dimensions in the direction of a more adaptive (less deviant)
behavior.