Comparison of Personality Characteristics of Healthy Women and Women with Functional Dysphonia

This study aim was comparison of the personality characteristics of women with functional dysphonia (FD) with a healthy control group. Twenty-seven women with FD and 43 healthy women matched for age، education، occupation and marital status of FD group were investigated. Using videolaryngoscopic technique and interview، the perceptual appraisal of voice for standard or non-standard status was conducted. Both groups completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Data were analyzed by independent t-test. The women with FD had higher scores in neuroticism (p=0. 002) and conscientiousness (p=0. 001) and lower scores in extraversion (p=0. 002) and agreeableness (p≤0. 000). The women with FD are differentiated from healthy women in some personality characteristics. These findings seem useful in identification of the etiology of functional dysphonia and presenting optimum treatment strategies.