A Type A and Type D Combined Personality Typology in Essential Hypertension and Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Associations with Demographic, Psychological, Clinical, and Lifestyle Indicators

PLoS One. 2016 Sep 2;11(9):e0161840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161840. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Many studies have focused on Type A and Type D personality types in the context of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but nothing is known about how these personality types combine to create new profiles. The present study aimed to develop a typology of Type A and Type D personality in two groups of patients affected by and at risk for coronary disease. The study involved 711 patients: 51.6% with acute coronary syndrome, 48.4% with essential hypertension (mean age = 56.4 years; SD = 9.7 years; 70.7% men). Cluster analysis was applied. External variables, such as socio-demographic, psychological, lifestyle, and clinical parameters, were assessed. Six groups, each with its own unique combined personality profile scores, were identified: Type D, Type A-Negatively Affected, Not Type A-Negatively Affected, Socially Inhibited-Positively Affected, Not Socially Inhibited, and Not Type A-Not Type D. The Type A-Negatively Affected cluster and, to a lesser extent, the Type D cluster, displayed the worst profile: namely higher total cardiovascular risk index, physical inactivity, higher anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem, optimism, and health status. Identifying combined personality profiles is important in clinical research and practice in cardiovascular diseases. Practical implications are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / psychology*
  • Aged
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypotension / psychology*
  • Life Style*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Self Concept
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Type A Personality*
  • Type D Personality*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Instruction, University and Research – FIRB “Futuro in ricerca” [grant number RBFR08YVUL]; Principal Investigator: PS, http://futuroinricerca.miur.it/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.