Personality Profiles in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Psychological factors can be associated with allergic disorders. However, no particular personality pattern associated with these disorders has yet been identified.

This study aimed at comparing the personality profiles of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and normal controls. Materials &

This cross-sectional study was done on 50 adult people with persistent allergic rhinitis for at least one year and 50 age- and sex-matched normal controls that completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). A multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) was carried out to discover possible personality differences between the two groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 19 software.

The results of the MMPI showed no significant difference between the two groups in the validity scales (P=0.29). The most common modal validity presentation style in both groups was neutral self-presentation. The MANCOVA analysis showed significantly high scores on the hypochondriasis (F=18.13, P<0.005, partial η2=0.16) and hysteria scales in allergic rhinitis subjects (F=8.68, P=0.04, partial η2=0.08) compared with normal controls. The most common profiles with high scores in the allergic rhinitis subjects were schizophrenia (52%, P<0.01) and hypochondriasis (50%, P<0.01). These scales emphasized the feelings of isolation and discomfort in allergic people. The frequency of psychasthenia scale, which measures long lasting anxiety, was significantly different between the two groups (40% in allergic rhinitis subjects vs. 10% in normal controls, odds ratio=6 [95%CI 1.9-22.3], P<0.001).

The score of psychological health is lower among allergic people than in normal controls. Schizophrenia and hypochondriasis are the most common profiles in the allergic rhinitis subjects.