Validity of Type D personality in Iceland: association with disease severity and risk markers in cardiac patients

• Published in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine
• Main Authors: Svansdottir, Erla, Karlsson, Hrobjartur D., Gudnason, Thorarinn, Olason, Daniel T., Thorgilsson, Hordur, Sigtryggsdottir, Unnur, Sijbrands, Eric J., Pedersen, Susanne S., Denollet, Johan
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Springer US 2011
• Subjects: Article; Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3305874; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21533610; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9337-5

Type D personality has been associated with poor prognosis in cardiac patients. This study investigated the validity of the Type D construct in Iceland and its association with disease severity and health-related risk markers in cardiac patients. A sample of 1,452 cardiac patients completed the Type D scale (DS14), and a subgroup of 161 patients completed measurements for the five-factor model of personality, emotional control, anxiety, depression, stress and lifestyle factors. The Icelandic DS14 had good psychometric properties and its construct validity was confirmed. Prevalence of Type D was 26–29%, and assessment of Type D personality was not confounded by severity of underlying coronary artery disease. Regarding risk markers, Type D patients reported more psychopharmacological medication use and smoking, but frequency of previous mental problems was similar across groups. Type D is a valid personality construct in Iceland, and is associated with health-related risk markers, but not cardiac disease severity.