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Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the personality traits of patients with Behcet's Disease (BD) using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) compared with healthy control subjects and to investigate the relationship between the temperament and character properties and quality of life, disease activity, depression and anxiety in Behcet's patients.
Method: A total of 46 BD patients and 40 healthy subjects were included in the study. All patients and controls were determined using the TCI, Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Clinical Version for Axis I disorders (SCID-CV), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Quality of life (QOL) Instrument for Skin Disorders and Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).
Results: BD patients demonstrated significantly lower reward dependence, exploratory excitability, and shyness with strangers, attachment, spiritual acceptance and higher self-acceptance compared to control subjects. Decreased quality of life and increased disease activity of the patients were correlated with increased anxiety and depression. Responsibility, self-forgetfulness, transpersonal identification and self-transcendence were associated with quality of life while responsibility was the major factor effecting QOL. Disease activity was not found to be related with TCI properties.
Conclusion: Temperament and character traits of BD patients were different from healthy group that might be due to many factors like genetics, biological or socio-cultural differences. BD patients were demonstrated as materialistic, self-contained, self-confident, introvert and reserved although they are not shy. Considering the different personality traits of BD patients in psychotherapeutic approaches, they may have a positive impact on QOL and comorbid major depressive disorder.