Personality and Psychopathology in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease, with an estimated prevalence between 15 and 340 per 1 million persons [1]. Like other systemic autoimmune diseases, SSc is characterized by a multifactorial etiology, predominant female prevalence (female: male ratio is 9:1), progressive and unpredictable course of disease, and diversity of clinical manifestations. Typical disease onset is between 30 and 50 years of age. Besides the autoimmune phenomena, central characteristics of SSc include vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, which cause cold-induced Raynaud phenomenon and skin thickening. Furthermore, the disease may involve several inner organs, particularly the lungs, heart and kidneys, which may lead to poorer prognosis. Scleroderma patients often experience severe pain, fatigue, musculoskeletal disability and disfigurement.

In addition to physical symptoms, SSc patients are susceptible to psychological distress and internalizing psychiatric disorders. Prevalence estimates range between 36 percent and 65 percent for depression [2] and between 19 percent and 64 percent for anxiety [3, 4], percentages which considerably exceed those of the general population. In a comparative study scleroderma patients reported even more depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression scale, than rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, although analysing the scores on cognitive-affective items separately, no statistical difference was found between RA and SSc patients [5]. The great variability in reported prevalence rates of depression and anxiety was attributed to methodological issues [2], because it may derive from comparisons of studies using different measurement methods, the overlap between symptoms of SSc and somatic symptoms of depression involved in certain questionnaires, and the different populations sampled (differences in age, gender, disease severity, etc.). Moreover, pathogenesis of anxiety and depression is also uncertain. They may be primary psychiatric conditions, or iatrogenically-induced illnesses (e.g. consequences of corticosteroid therapy), or emotional reactions to having a chronic and progressive disease. Studies assessing correlates of depression and anxiety have provided inconsistent results regarding gender, age, marital status, educational level, severity and subset (limited or diffuse SSc) of the disease and organ involvement. They have, however, an established relationship with pain [6, 7], functional status [5, 8] and fatigue [6, 9], because patients with worse functional status, or experiencing higher levels of pain or fatigue, tend to report more symptoms of anxiety and depression. Moreover, depression and anxiety are associated with impaired quality of life [5, 10].

Studies investigating the personality of SSc patients in relation to psychological adjustment have focused on certain aspects of personality. Scleroderma may cause changes in appearance, and skin deformities appear to be one of the strongest stressors in the life of patients [11]. SSc is associated with decreased appearance self-esteem, particularly in female patients, regardless of the objective extent of skin involvement and most coping styles [12]. Low appearance self-esteem and high body image dissatisfaction are related to psychological distress [12, 13]. Certain aspects of personality (e.g. sense of coherence and hostility) also appear to be linked to psychological distress [14]. Acceptance of the condition [12], use of humor as a coping strategy [15], relative optimism [11], empowering relationships, and valuing social support [6] may improve quality of life in SSc patients.

Previous studies have evaluated mainly the internalizing disorders and certain personality characteristics associated to SSc. The aim of this study was to explore the mental health of SSc patients taking into consideration the following viewpoints: (1) obtaining a complex psychopathological profile; (2) using a valid and wildly used clinical measurement method; and (3) comparing SSc patients to another patient group. Thus, in our study, we assessed the psychopathological characteristics of SSc patients using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). SSc patients were compared to healthy persons and patients with another inflammatory rheumatic disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA was used for comparison because it shares many similarities with SSc (e.g. chronicity, progressive disease course, and causing substantial burden on everyday life) and several previous studies have evaluated the psychological consequences of RA using the MMPI-2.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS

Mean scores of healthy participants and SSc and RA patients on MMPI-2 clinical scales are shown in Table (2). RA and SSc patients reached significantly higher scores compared to healthy participants on the Scale 1 (F(2, 175)=37.59; p˂0.001), Scale 2 (F(2, 175)=35.70; p˂0.001), and Scale 3 (F(2, 175)=38.73; p˂0.001). The patient groups scored in the high range (above 65T) on the neurotic triad (Scales 1, 2, 3). Both patient groups presented moderate scores on the Scales 5 and 0. The Scale 7 was moderately elevated only in females with rheumatoid arthritis distinctively. Means on the Scales 4, 6, 8 and 9 were within the normal range in all three groups.

As shown in Table (2), the majority of females with RA and SSc scored in the clinically elevated range on the Scale 1 (62% and 63.9% respectively), Scale 2 (64% and 66.7%), and Scale 3 (58% and 52.8%). Approximately one third of SSc (30.6%) and RA (34%) patients had high scores on the Scale 0. However, only a few of them presented high scores on the Scales 4, 6 and 9. Statistical differences between groups were found on the Scales 7 and 5. Significantly fewer SSc patients produced high scores on the Scale 7 (19.4% vs. 36%; χ²(1)=4.18; p=0.041) and marginally more sclerodermic patients had high scores on the Scale 5 (41.7% vs. 26%; χ²(1)=3.17; p=0.075).

Examination of subscales was reasonable for the Scales 2 and 3 Table (3) in patient groups (scores on the Scale 1 were also elevated, but it has no subscales). Regarding the five subscales of Scale 2, high scores were found on Physical Malfunctioning in both patient groups. Mean scores on Subjective Depression and Mental Dullness were mildly elevated, whilst scores on Brooding and Psychomotor Retardation subscales were in the normal range in both groups. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between RA and SSc patients in any of the subscales. Exploring the pattern of the subscales of Scale 3, we found high scores on Somatic Complaints and moderate scores on Lassitude-Malaise in both patient groups. SSc and RA patients had normal or low scores on the other subscales. However, there was a statistically significant (but not clinically meaningful) difference between them with respect to Denial of Social Anxiety, because RA patients scored even lower (t(120)= -2.03; p=0.045) than SSc patients.

We also examined the proportion of patients scoring in the high range on these subscales (Table 3). Most of the RA and SSc patients (74% and 77.8%, respectively) scored above 65T on Physical Malfunctioning. More than half of the RA group and nearly half of the SSc group had high scores on Lassitude-Malaise (60% vs. 45.8%) and Somatic Complaints (62% vs. 52.8%). Relatively high frequencies were found on Subjective Depression, because 40 percent of RA patients and 37.5 percent of SSc patients scored in the high range. High scores on Psychomotor Retardation and Mental Dullness were less common (20.8 - 27.8%). Scores above 65T on Brooding, Need for Affection, and Inhibition of Aggression were even rarer (9.7 - 18%) in RA and SSc patients. We found no significant differences in the distribution of patients scoring above 65T or in the normal range between SSc and RA patients on any of the subscales.

DISCUSSION

Using the MMPI-2 questionnaire, this is the first study exploring the personality and psychopathological characteristics of SSc patients in comparison with RA patients and healthy volunteers. RA and SSc patients considerably differed from healthy controls in their clinical personality profiles, but were only slightly different from each other. The salient features of the patient profiles were the high scores (at or above 65T) of the Scales 1, 2 and 3. Moderate scores were presented on the Scales 5 and 0 by both groups and on the Scale 7 by the RA group.

These characteristics of the profiles imply that females with RA and SSc have a strong tendency to worry about their health, to be engaged in their bodily processes intensely and to focus their attention to them regularly (high Scale 1 scores). Additionally, they reported poor health status, high levels of fatigue and weakness, and many specific somatic symptoms (high scores on Physical Malfunctioning, Lassitude-Malaise, and Somatic Complaints). Furthermore, RA and SSc patients seemed to feel anxiety, tension, or unhappiness often, and had doubts about their abilities and skills, which may lead to a lack of self-confidence and feelings of inferiority (high scores on Scale 2 and moderate scores on Scale 0). Moderate scores on the Subjective Depression and Scale 0 indicate that they are frequently uninterested in what goes on around them and in social situations they are shy and embarrassed. Besides, they can be characterized by less feminine attitude, interest and emotional reactions (moderate scores on Scale 5).

The explored profiles of RA and SSc patients are consistent with the results of prior studies. Elevations on the neurotic triad (Scale 1, 2 and 3) have been reinforced several times in RA samples [21-24]. Others reported clinically elevated scores (between 62 and 68T) on the Scales 1, 2 and 3 and normal or moderate scores on the other scales. Moreover, comparable profiles have been identified in other chronically ill populations, such as patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [25], fibromyalgia and chronic pain [26], and systemic lupus erythematosus [21, 27, 28]. We may therefore suppose that the characteristics of the MMPI-2 profile in SSc (and RA) patients reflect the consequences of the ‘sick role’. That is, our results probably indicate the impact of the chronic, painful and disabling disease that may give rise to emotional distress (high scores on the neurotic triad scales) and difficulties in contacting with persons (moderate scores on the Scale 0). However, pre-existing depression, emotional distress and greater social isolation may have altered the course of the disease and treatment.

High scores on the neurotic triad scales confirm the susceptibility of SSc patients to psychological distress and high prevalence rates of depression and anxiety reported previously [2, 3]. However, our results revealed that elevated scores of the neurotic triad scales were obtained primarily due to the many physical symptoms (elevated scores on the Physical Malfunctioning, Lassitude-Malaise and Somatic Complaints subscales) experienced by the patients. These symptoms may reflect either the multisystem clinical manifestations of SSc (resulting in ‘artificially’ elevated scores) or the somatic signs of emotional distress; anyhow, these physical complaints may impair the quality of life of patients [29]. Nevertheless, elevated scores on the Subjective Depression subscale in 37.5 percent of SSc patients suggest that they are indeed at great risk for depression.

Only small differences were found in response patterns between SSc and RA patients. RA patients scored in the moderate range on the Scale 7, which reflects their strong tendency to experience tension, anxiety, self-doubt, unreasonable fear and worrying. Moreover, significantly fewer patients with SSc than with RA (19.4% vs. 36%) reported symptoms in the high range (at or above 65T score) on this scale. This may propose that patients with SSc are less disturbed by psychological distress in terms of anxiety and obsessive worrying, but further studies are needed to confirm whether anxiety disorders are less prevalent in patients with SSc than with RA. On the other hand, somewhat more patients with SSc than with RA (41.7% vs. 26%) reported that they were less interested in feminine activities, vocations or hobbies, which may be related to the characteristics of the disease, namely socially relevant disfigurement (e.g. skin thickening on face and hands, and deformity of the hands) leading to body image dissatisfaction [12], or urogenital tract involvement. In addition, our finding is in line with former reports on impaired sexual functioning in females with SSc [30] - however, Scale 5 is an interest scale and does not indicate clinically significant problems or dysfunction.

Although this study has some limitations, such as the size and the gender composition of the sample and the exclusion of the content and supplementary scales from the analysis, our data suggest that the MMPI-2 can provide clinically useful information about the psychological status of SSc patients. Nevertheless, future studies are needed to develop disease-specific scales from the items of the MMPI-2. Additionally, studies aimed at exploring the interrelation between the MMPI-2 personality profiles and the objective medical indices (disability, duration, type of treatment, etc.) are also required.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, high scores on the neurotic triad scales (Scales 1, 2, 3), and moderate scores on the Scales 5 and 0 were found in patients with SSc, reflecting the psychosocial impact of the disease. Female SSc patients reported many somatic symptoms such as fatigue and malaise, and psychological symptoms such as emotional distress, depression, low self-esteem, and uncertainty. Moreover, our results suggest that the majority of them may also experience a decline in their social lives. Interventions targeted at treating and/or preventing anxiety and depression and promoting adaptive coping mechanisms may have clinical benefits in this population. Psychosocial interventions that may improve social engagement and decrease social and role limitations should be integrated into interdisciplinary care.

REFERENCES