Research Paper: Personality Profiles in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Psychological factors can be associated with allergic disorders. However, no particular personality pattern associated with these disorders has yet been identified. Objectives: This study aimed at comparing the personality profiles of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and normal controls. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 50 adult people with persistent allergic rhinitis for at least one year and 50 age- and sex-matched normal controls that completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). A multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) was carried out to discover possible personality differences between the two groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 19 software. Results: The results of the MMPI showed no significant difference between the two groups in the validity scales (P=0.29). The most common modal validity presentation style in both groups was neutral self-presentation. The MANCOVA analysis showed significantly high scores on the hypochondriasis (F=18.13, P<0.005, partial η2=0.16) and hysteria scales in allergic rhinitis subjects (F=8.68, P=0.04, partial η2=0.08) compared with normal controls. The most common profiles with high scores in the allergic rhinitis subjects were schizophrenia (52%, P<0.01) and hypochondriasis (50%, P<0.01). These scales emphasized the feelings of isolation and discomfort in allergic people. The frequency of psychasthenia scale, which measures long lasting anxiety, was significantly different between the two groups (40% in allergic rhinitis subjects vs. 10% in normal controls, odds ratio=6 [95%CI 1.9-22.3], P<0.001). Conclusion: The score of psychological health is lower among allergic people than in normal controls. Schizophrenia and hypochondriasis are the most common profiles in the allergic rhinitis subjects.