Personality disorders characterized by anxiety predict Alzheimer's disease in women: A case-control studies

Abstract

This research is geared toward the evaluation of current and pre-morbid personality psychopathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study was conducted with four groups who were administered the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+, mainly in the form of individual interviews. Current measurement: AD Group, 44 female participants (M = 81.36 years); Control Group, 80 female participants from the population at large (M = 75.84 years). Pre-morbid measurement: AD Group Informants (n = 40); Control Group Informants (n = 42). The incidence of all clusters in clinical state are significant, and Cluster B incidence in pre-morbidity is evidenced. Cluster C is highlighted throughout the life course as a predictor. Logistic regression analyses showed that schizotypical, narcissistic, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, pre-morbid schizotypical, pre-morbid histrionic, and pre-morbid obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, predicted the presence of AD diagnosis, accounting for 49% of the variance. These findings are relevant to research relating personality and psychopathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords:

• Alzheimer's disease
• mental health
• personality
• psychopathology

Authors contributions

Joana Henriques-Calado designed the study, wrote the protocol, managed the literature searches, carried out the collection and evaluation of samples, performed the statistical analysis and data interpretation, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Maria Eugénia Duarte-Silva collaborated in the study design, supervised the development of research, and provided critical revisions. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank all of the study Participants. Special thanks to the Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Portugal.

Disclosure statement

Joana Henriques-Calado and Maria Eugénia Duarte-Silva declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by a doctoral grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (ref. SFRH/BD/44515/2008) (provided financial support for the conduct of the research) awarded to the first author and, and by funds of CICPSI (provided financial support for the preparation of the article), Research Center for Psychological Science, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.