THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY TYPE AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE RISK FACTORS

The relationship of Friedman and Rosenman's Type A personality and coronary heart disease [CHD] is well established. However the association between personality type and CHD has been identified but not well documented. The most widely used inventory for assessing personality type is the Myers – Briggs Type Indicator® [MBTI®]. Thorne et al and others have suggested that certain MBTI® types [particularly those with a preference for sensing and judging {SJ}] are associated with higher risk for developing CHD. PURPOSE To establish if individuals with CHD and whose MBTI type falls into the SJ categories have more risk factors for CHD. METHODS Eighteen participants with known CHD in a phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program volunteered for this investigation. All subjects read and signed a consent form granting permission for the investigators to administer the MBTI and conduct a medical chart review. Upon completing the instrument, it was computer scored by Consulting Psychological Press [CPP] and the results were recorded in concert with the subject's diagnosis, cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking and physical activity history, glucose levels, height, weight and body mass index, family history of heart disease and medications. RESULTS Ten subjects exhibited a preference for “SJ” while 8 were spread among sensing and perceiving [SP], intuition and perceiving or judging [NP or NJ] “other”. Sixteen subjects were hypertensive while 15 subjects suffered from hyperlipidemia. Four subjects currently smoked, five were considered non-sedentary. Chi square analysis revealed no significant difference between the two groups [X2 = 0.28 df = 1]. Five “SJ” subjects suffered from angina versus 2 “other”. Although not significant, [X2 = 1.62 df = 1], this trend agrees with the notion that individuals who prefer sensing and judging may be prone to higher levels of stress as exhibited with bouts of angina. Those who prefer sensing are detailed oriented and a preference for judging indicates a need for closure and quick decision making skills. CONCLUSION Although one cannot change their personality type, awareness of ones type as an independent contributor to CHD could be valuable in both primary and secondary prevention programs. Myers – Briggs Type Indicator and MBTI are registered trademarks of Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc. Supported by The Whiteside Institute of St. Luke's Hospital/UMD School of Medicine