The Concept of Personality and Anxiety Disorder - Essay Example

RUNNING HEAD: PERSONALITY AND MENTAL DISORDER Personality and Mental Disorder Name Institution Date Abstract The review evaluates the concept of personality and anxiety disorder. Various viable studies have been reviewed in order to examine the concept of personality within or among patients with anxiety disorder. The studies identified the personality traits that exist in anxiety disorder, which include expectations of damage as a personality characteristic, closely associated to generalize anxiety disorder (GAD). Furthermore, comorbidity was another common personality trait that exists among patients with anxiety disorder. The personality theory, Gray’s model of anxiety and the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) t provided the basic theoretical framework for examining the concept of personality and anxiety disorder. The review proposes that more research should be conducted in order to provide an in-depth understanding of the concept of personality and anxiety disorder. Introduction Mental disorder is a psychological concern that has gained significant attention over the years. One of the of the basic reasons is associated to the fact that mental disorders can actually disrupt an individuals daily undertakings, in addition the condition can make a persons life to be very difficult. A misconception exists in society that mental disorders are not a common occurrence. However according to the World Health organization about one third of people in many countries develop mental disorder at one particular time of their lives. Different types of mental disorders may affect human personality and also their behaviour. This paper presents a review of literature on anxiety a common mental disorder. The scope of the analysis will be grounded on evaluating the concept of personality in anxiety disorder. According to Wilt et al (2011) the concept of personality within or among patients with anxiety disorder can historically be traced to various traditional researchers such as Allport and Olbert, 1938, Wundt and Judd 1897 and Cattell, 1943. According to Wilt et al (2011) the researchers come up with various personality trait taxonomies. Most of the developed taxonomies situated or positioned anxiety to be located at the higher-order level of personality which is most frequently referred to as low emotional stability or neuroticism or negative emotionality. A wide range of studies have progressively been conducted to investigate the concept of personality within anxiety disorder. Gasperini et al (1990) conducted a study to evaluate personality features related to generalized anxiety disorder, the study method involved examining forty six patients that were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The sample group was then compared with a control group of fifty people. The findings of the study reveled that there was no precise personality disorder that was discovered to be extensively linked to chronic anxiety. Nevertheless many of the anxious patients significantly demonstrated mal-adaptive traits as opposed to the control group. Through the use of factor analysis Gasperini et al (1990) were able to conclude that expectations of damage as a personality characteristic was closely associated to generalize anxiety disorder (GAD), as discovered in the sample group. Studies to examine the personality traits that exist in anxiety disorder have also been conducted by various researchers. Charney (2000) reveals that the major personality trait that is related to anxiety disorder is comorbidity. After conducting various epidemiological studies, Charney (2000) asserts that the rate of comorbidity that was discovered among patients with anxiety disorder was greater than one would expect. This was based on the fact that common cases of anxiety disorders have displayed comorbidity rates that are above 90%. The study therefore gave an implication that comorbidity is a personality trait that exists among patients with anxiety disorder. Charney (2000) highlights that the existence of comorbidity among patients with anxiety disorder, explains the reason why the anxiety disorder is highly correlated to other disorders, for instance half or a quarter of individuals with anxiety disorders have been reported to have a lifetime history of substance or alcohol abuse. Cuijpersa et al (2005) also conducted a study to evaluate personality traits that exist among patients with anxiety disorder. The method of the study entailed examining personality traits that exist in a big sample of outpatient with anxiety disorder. The major findings of the two studies therefore concluded that that main personality trait that is linked anxiety disorder is comorbidity. A more recent study was undertaken by Wilt et al (2011) to examine anxiety disorder as a personality trait. Wilt et al (2011) argue that although anxiety disorder is usually perceived as a common mental disorder, it can however be conceptualized as a personality trait. The study method involved the use of the ABCD framework in order to analyze anxiety as a personality trait. The study adopted a simple analysis of the ABCD framework through examining an anxious student who is studying for exams. The anxious feelings of the student (A) can be associated to the to the uncertainty of attaining a long term objective of succeeding (D) which may make the student to reflect (C) on how best to attain the objective(B). Wilt et al (2011) highlight that finally the performance of the student will to some extent be determined by the ABCD approach. In the application of the ABCD approach to examine anxiety as a personality trait, the findings of the study by Wilt et al (2011) revealed that anxiety can be situated or categorized as a personality trait based on three basic levels of information processing which include reactive, routine and reflective. Another study by Dreessen and Arntz (1998) examined the effect of personality disorder on the treatment outcome of anxiety disorders. The study method involved the use of cognitive behavioural theory which was conducted on patients with personality disorder. The sample group consisted of 57 anxiety disorder patients with personality disorder. The patients received cognitive behavioural therapy that was individually tailored. A control group of 16 patients was also used. Dreessen and Arntz (1998) highlights that from the investigation anxiety disorder patients who also had personality disorder experienced sever complications during the start and at the end of the treatment. Dreessen and Arntz (1998) study also entailed an in-depth review of studies that examined the impact of personality disorders on the treatment outcome of anxiety disorders. A sample of 15 studies were selected, the studies were further categorized in accordance to the kind of anxiety disorder that was treated. Dreessen and Arntz (1998) highlight that in analyzing the selected studies, two major questions were tackled: The first question was whether patients with personality disorder react less to treatment in comparison to patient without anxiety disorder. The second question was whether patients with personality disorder experience more complications at the end of treatment as opposed to patients with anxiety disorder. After conducting a multiple regression analysis and also taking an in-depth evaluation of previous study, the findings of the study by Dreessen and Arntz (1998) revealed that personality disorders may bring about adverse impacts on the treatment outcome of anxiety disorders. Dreessen and Arntz (1998) therefore propose that this aspect should be researched further. According to Mayer (2001) in order to effectively situate anxiety within the personality space, it is first of all essential to put into consideration the objectives of the personality theory. At the most fundamental level, the personality theory is usually grounded on what people do. In order to understand the behavioral acts of what people do, three latent acts can be applied this include cognition, affect and desires. According to Carver (2001) this approach is logical based on the fact that each individual recognizes the differences in our behaviour through the differences in our thoughts, goals and feelings. Consequently, anxiety is an affective variable within the movement of the personality theory based on the fact that it connects our system of motivation with other corresponding behaviors, affects and cognitions. Goozen, et al (1994) further highlight that; when examining the theory of personality, recent studies have reveled that the structure of personality can meaningfully be linked to the structure of mood. According to Goozen, et al (1994) these particular studies therefore indicate that the dimensions of personality of neuroticism (personality trait characterized by anxiety) can be linked to mood dimensions of negative affectivity and positive affectivity. Gray’s model of anxiety also provides an effective theoretical framework of understanding personality within anxiety disorder. According to Gray, (1997) the model propagates that anxious people should in most cases be sensitive to secondary stimuli. As a result exposure to secondary stimuli should lead to an increase in negative emotions (neuroticism) and increased information processing. Grays prediction concerning people who are anxious can well be examined when people are learning under an environment that is exposed to punishment they are bound to display anxiety. According to Gray punishment is a key element of personality on the basis of procedural learning. On the other hand anxiety works towards moderating the effects of punishment which supports or confirms the tenant that that the stimulation of behavioural inhibition system through the use of a secondary stimulus will result to enhanced learning in people who are anxious. Smillie and Pickering, (2006) on the other hand reveal that recent modifications of Gray’s model of anxiety have been devised through the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory RST theory. According to Smillie and Pickering, (2006) the application of RST as applied to the concept of personality, stresses the significance of differentiating anxiety from fear. Conclusion The review literature has evaluated the concept of personality and anxiety disorder, through the examination of various studies. The paper highlights that initial studies on the two areas begun through the creation of personality trait taxonomies that ranked anxiety to be located at the higher-order level of personality. Other studies were also examined with the objective of identifying personality traits that related to anxiety disorder. In general, most of the studies revealed that comorbidity and expectations to damage are the traits that exist among people with anxiety disorder. In general this particular review proposes that additional research should be conducted in this particular area in order to identify more dimensions of personality among people with anxiety disorder. References Carver, C. (2001). Affect and the functional bases of behavior: On the dimensional structure of affective experience. Personality and social Psychology Review. 5.p345-356, Cuijpersa, P, van Stratenc, A and Donkerc, M. (2005). Personality traits of patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Journal of Psychiatry Research. 133(2-3):p229–237. Dreessen, L and Arntz, A.(1998).The impact of personality disorders on treatment outcome of anxiety disorders. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 36(5): p 483-504. Gasperini,M, Battaglia, M, Diaferia, G.(1990).Personality features related to generalized anxiety disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 31(4): p363–368. Gray, J. (1997). Personality, Punishment and procedural learning. A test of J.A Grays’s Anxiety theory. Journal of Personality and social psychology. 23(2):p337-344. Goozen, S, van Nanne E. Van de Poll, Joseph A.(ED). Sergeant, Joe A. Sergeant, S.H.M. van Goozen (Editors).(1994).Emotions: Essays on Emotion Theory. Rutledge. Kaufman, J and Charney, D. (2000). Comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders. Depression and Anxiety. 12(1), p69. Mayer, D.(2001).Primary divisions of personality and their scientific contributions from the trilogy of mind to the system set. Journal for theory of social behavior. 31:p449-477. Smillie, D and Pickering, A. (2006).The New Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: Implications for Personality Measurement . Personality Social Psychology Review. 10 ( 4 ),p320-335. Wilt, J, Oehlberg , K, Revelle, W. (2011). Anxiety in personality Original Research, Personality and Individual Differences. 50(7),p987-993. Read More

Most of the developed taxonomies situated or positioned anxiety to be located at the higher-order level of personality which is most frequently referred to as low emotional stability or neuroticism or negative emotionality. A wide range of studies have progressively been conducted to investigate the concept of personality within anxiety disorder. Gasperini et al (1990) conducted a study to evaluate personality features related to generalized anxiety disorder, the study method involved examining forty six patients that were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The sample group was then compared with a control group of fifty people. The findings of the study reveled that there was no precise personality disorder that was discovered to be extensively linked to chronic anxiety. Nevertheless many of the anxious patients significantly demonstrated mal-adaptive traits as opposed to the control group. Through the use of factor analysis Gasperini et al (1990) were able to conclude that expectations of damage as a personality characteristic was closely associated to generalize anxiety disorder (GAD), as discovered in the sample group.

Studies to examine the personality traits that exist in anxiety disorder have also been conducted by various researchers. Charney (2000) reveals that the major personality trait that is related to anxiety disorder is comorbidity. After conducting various epidemiological studies, Charney (2000) asserts that the rate of comorbidity that was discovered among patients with anxiety disorder was greater than one would expect. This was based on the fact that common cases of anxiety disorders have displayed comorbidity rates that are above 90%.

The study therefore gave an implication that comorbidity is a personality trait that exists among patients with anxiety disorder. Charney (2000) highlights that the existence of comorbidity among patients with anxiety disorder, explains the reason why the anxiety disorder is highly correlated to other disorders, for instance half or a quarter of individuals with anxiety disorders have been reported to have a lifetime history of substance or alcohol abuse. Cuijpersa et al (2005) also conducted a study to evaluate personality traits that exist among patients with anxiety disorder.

The method of the study entailed examining personality traits that exist in a big sample of outpatient with anxiety disorder. The major findings of the two studies therefore concluded that that main personality trait that is linked anxiety disorder is comorbidity. A more recent study was undertaken by Wilt et al (2011) to examine anxiety disorder as a personality trait. Wilt et al (2011) argue that although anxiety disorder is usually perceived as a common mental disorder, it can however be conceptualized as a personality trait.

The study method involved the use of the ABCD framework in order to analyze anxiety as a personality trait. The study adopted a simple analysis of the ABCD framework through examining an anxious student who is studying for exams. The anxious feelings of the student (A) can be associated to the to the uncertainty of attaining a long term objective of succeeding (D) which may make the student to reflect (C) on how best to attain the objective(B). Wilt et al (2011) highlight that finally the performance of the student will to some extent be determined by the ABCD approach.

In the application of the ABCD approach to examine anxiety as a personality trait, the findings of the study by Wilt et al (2011) revealed that anxiety can be situated or categorized as a personality trait based on three basic levels of information processing which include reactive, routine and reflective. Another study by Dreessen and Arntz (1998) examined the effect of personality disorder on the treatment outcome of anxiety disorders. The study method involved the use of cognitive behavioural theory which was conducted on patients with personality disorder.

The sample group consisted of 57 anxiety disorder patients with personality disorder.

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