Belgian normative data of the temperament and character inventory

in European Journal of Psychological Assessment (2001), 17(1), 56-62

The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) is a 226-item self-questionnaire developed to assess the seven dimensions of personality described by Cloninger and his colleagues. Normative data from 322 ... [more ▼]

The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) is a 226-item self-questionnaire developed to assess the seven dimensions of personality described by Cloninger and his colleagues. Normative data from 322 representative French-speaking subjects from Belgium are presented and the psychometric properties are discussed. Mean scores of temperament dimensions were appreciably different from those published by Cloninger. In our sample, novelty seeking and self-transcendence scores were lower and harm avoidance scores were higher compared to US norms. The other dimensions were almost identical. The factorial analysis showed that the hypothesized factor structure of temperament and character dimensions was almost confirmed. The present study also confirmed that the TCI scales were weakly related among themselves. The relationships were consistent with those reported by previous reports. Gender differences were also found for different dimensions. [less ▲]

P300 event-related brain potential and personality in depression.

in European Psychiatry (2000), 15(6), 370-7

P300 is an event-related brain potential (ERP) particularly interesting to the study of cognitive processes in normal subjects and in psychopathology. P300 has been applied in depression with ... [more ▼]

P300 is an event-related brain potential (ERP) particularly interesting to the study of cognitive processes in normal subjects and in psychopathology. P300 has been applied in depression with controversial results. A major source for these controversial results could result from the diversity of depressed patients included in the different studies. Supporting this assumption, impulsivity, blunted affect, suicidal behavior and psychotic features significantly influence P300 amplitude. However, no data are available on the possible influences of the personality of depressed patients on P300. Since personality is related to P300 in normal subjects, the aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between ERPs (P200, N200, and P300) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 54 depressed patients. The main results of the study concern the absence of major correlations between personality dimensions as assessed by the TCI and ERP parameters among depressed patients. Only weak partial positive correlations relate N200 latency with harm avoidance, and P300 amplitude (Pz) with the self-directedness dimension. N200 amplitude is also negatively correlated to persistence. However, the preliminary nature of the presented results with respect to the weak statistical significance should be underlined. [less ▲]

Effect of psychological intervention on psychopathology after heart transplantation

Poster (2000)

Depressive vulnerability is not an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

in Maturitas (1999), 33(2), 133-7

Major depression has been repeatedly but not consistently reported to be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and to an increased risk for fracture in women. We have investigated, in healthy ... [more ▼]

Major depression has been repeatedly but not consistently reported to be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and to an increased risk for fracture in women. We have investigated, in healthy postmenopausal women, whether depressive symptomatology, assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), was associated to a significant decrease in BMD, hence supporting the hypothesis of an independent pathogenetic link between the two disorders. We investigated 121 postmenopausal women, aged 48-77 years, spontaneously attending a screening visit for osteoporosis in an outpatient facility. BMD of the spine and the non-dominant hip (total and neck areas) were measured by Dual Energy X-Ray absorptiometry. All subjects completed to the 'General Health Questionnaire' translated and validated in French. No significant correlations were observed between the GHQ score and BMD of the spine (P = 0.54), the total hip area (P = 0.65), or the femoral neck area (P = 0.65). No differences in terms of spinal or femoral BMD were observed between women with GHQ score < 5 or > or = 5. When comparing values of BMD between women within the upper and the lower quartiles for GHQ score, no difference was observed for spine (P = 0.69), total hip (P = 0.80), or femoral neck (P = 0.93). Similarly, GHQ scores were not significantly different when comparing women in the upper and lower quartiles of BMD distribution at the spine or the hip. In conclusion, notwithstanding the clinical pattern of postmenopausal osteoporosis can lead to depression and, on the other hand, hormonal and behavioral disturbances reported in depression might be enhancing factors for accelerated bone loss, our present results do not support the hypothesis that otherwise healthy postmenopausal women with increased depressive complaints are also more prone to exhibit osteoporotic fractures. [less ▲]

Harm avoidance and serotonin.

in Biological Psychology (1999), 51(1), 77-81

The relationships between the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and serotonergic activity has been described in some studies with controversial results. These studies have focused on specific ... [more ▼]

The relationships between the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and serotonergic activity has been described in some studies with controversial results. These studies have focused on specific patient populations rather than normal controls. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the relationships between the TPQ and serotonergic activity in a group of non-patient subjects. Twenty-three normal subjects answered the TPQ, and the serotonergic activity was assessed by the prolactin response to a highly potent and selective 5-HT1a agonist (flesinoxan). A positive relationship between harm avoidance and PRL response to flesinoxan was found. This study is consistent with the hypothesized link between serotonergic activity and the harm avoidance dimension of the biosocial model of Cloninger. [less ▲]

Le controle thérapeutique des médicaments antidépresseurs

in Annales de Biologie Clinique (1999), 57(4, Jul-Aug), 463-8

Depression is a pathology frequently observed in general medicine (10%). Treatment of depression makes great use of drugs from different pharmacological classes. The optimal posology is difficult to ... [more ▼]

Depression is a pathology frequently observed in general medicine (10%). Treatment of depression makes great use of drugs from different pharmacological classes. The optimal posology is difficult to establish, and clinicians prefer to avoid side effects by prescribing low regimen. This study is related to an evaluation of seric antidepressant concentrations in comparison with the daily doses in a large psychiatric population. Side effects of drugs are appreciated by enzymatic determinations. [less ▲]

The tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) and depression.

in European Psychiatry (1998), 13(2), 101-3

The relationships between the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and depression were examined in a sample of 53 major depressive patients and 33 healthy controls. Depressed patients exhibit ... [more ▼]

The relationships between the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and depression were examined in a sample of 53 major depressive patients and 33 healthy controls. Depressed patients exhibit higher harm avoidance scores as well as lower novelty seeking sub-scale exploratory excitability (NS1) scores as compared to healthy controls. However, the other dimensions and their sub-scales do not differ between depressive patients and controls. In the depressive group, the harm avoidance dimension is related to the severity of depression as assessed by the Hamilton scale. This study confirms the state dependence of the harm avoidance dimension and suggests a relationship between the novelty seeking sub-scale NS1 and depression. [less ▲]

Le cas clinique du mois. Un cas de syndrome de Munchausen (trouble factice).

in Revue Médicale de Liège (1998), 53(7), 390-2

Factitious disorders are characterized by physical or psychological symptoms that are intentionally produced or feigned in order to assume the sick role. In the particularly severe type presented by ... [more ▼]

Factitious disorders are characterized by physical or psychological symptoms that are intentionally produced or feigned in order to assume the sick role. In the particularly severe type presented by Munchausen syndrome, the person's entire life may consist of either trying to get admitted to or staying in hospitals. From the case of a 47 year old patient exhibiting symptoms of neurological aspect associated with psychological complaints, the issue of differential diagnosis of a factitious disorder is addressed. The integration of the reported symptomatology to the subject's personal history seems indispensable to the understanding and the global therapy of the patient. [less ▲]

Harm avoidance dimension of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and serotonin-1A activity in depressed patients.

in Biological Psychiatry (1997), 42(10), 959-61

Suicidal behavior in depressive disorder: an event-related potential study.

in Biological Psychiatry (1996), 40(2), 116-22

P300 and contingent negative variation (CNV) were recorded in depressive inpatients with and without history of suicide attempt. The results showed a significant reduction of P200, P300, and CNV and a ... [more ▼]

P300 and contingent negative variation (CNV) were recorded in depressive inpatients with and without history of suicide attempt. The results showed a significant reduction of P200, P300, and CNV and a significant increase of postimperative negative variation (PINV) in patients who had attempted suicide compared to patients with a negative history. Moreover, P300 amplitude was negatively related with the Suicidal Risk and the Hopelessness but not with the Hamilton scales. These results stress the need to differentiate clinical subgroups of patients to assess the psychophysiology of depression, and indicate that patients who attempted suicide exhibit lower cortical resources and poorer cortical performance than patients without history of suicide attempt. [less ▲]