Personality traits in patients with idiopathic pain disorder

In the present study, patients with idiopathic pain syndromes have been compared to healthy volunteers, patients with neurogenic pain syndromes and depressed patients as concerns stable personality traits. The personality traits were assessed by means of the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). Patients with idiopathic pain syndromes were found to have high scores on scales measuring Muscular tension, Social desirability, Psychasthenia and Socialization. They had also high scores on the Inhibition of aggression factor. They had low scores on Impulsivity, Monotony avoidance, Indirect aggression, Verbal aggression and Suspicion. As compared to depressed patients, the pain patients were much more controlled, with higher scores on Socialization and Social desirability scales and like depressed patients with a tendency to inhibit aggression. Thus, as compared to depressed patients, the pain patients had less open anxiety but the same degree of muscular tension.