Change in personality traits during psychiatric hospitalization. Pilot study with Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI)
Abstract
This pilot qualitative study examined the changes in both temperament and character by TCI during psychiatric hospitalization in a sample of 12 patients (4 men, 8 women, age 18-68) treated for depression by farmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Increase in Self-Directedness during hospitalization and stable Harm Avoidance dimensions were found in most patients.
Low score of Self-Directedness, higher score in Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence differentiated patients with and without personality disorder measured by International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE). Self-directedness emerged as the variable of the highest impact that could be explained by the cognitive nature of the dimension.
State effect of personality inventory and the need for structured interviews in personality assessment od depressive patients is discussed