STUDY ON PERSONALITY TRAITS AND IMMUNE FUNCTION OF PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

[Objective] To study personality traits and immune function of patients with generalized anxiety disorder.[Methods] 58 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and 30 healthy persons were collected and assessed by Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),16 Personality Factor Questionnaire(16PF),and the levels of Interleukin-2(IL-2),Interleukin-6(IL-6),IgG,IgA,IgM in blood serum were also measured.[Results] The IL-2 level of patients(19.39±8.74) was lower than that of healthy persons(24.05±5.00,P﹤0.01).No significant differences of 16 primary traits between patients and healthy persons.But in secondary personality characteristics,adaptation and anxiety factor in patients(6.076 ±1.38) was higher than those in healthy persons(5.403 ±1.53,P﹤0.05),and cowardice and resoluteness factor in patients(4.659 ±1.68) was lower than those in healthy persons(5.563 ±1.75,P﹤0.05).The adaptation and anxiety factor score was positively correlated to the total score of HAMA(r = 0.522,P = 0.002),and negatively correlated to the level of IL-2(r =-0.284,P = 0.009).The cowardice and resoluteness factor score was positively correlated to the level of IL-2(r = 0.231,P = 0.034).There was no correlation between HAMA score and all those immune index(P﹥0.05).[Conclusion] Patients with generalized anxiety disorder have a reduced cell-mediated immune function and the personality traits of maladaptation,anxiety,and they are lack of independence and resoluteness.Personality traits may influence immune function,and is related to the level of anxiety.