Distinct dopaminergic personality patterns in patients with prolactinomas: a comparison with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma patients and age- and gender-matched controls
Abstract
Personality patterns such as extraversion and novelty seeking have been associated with an altered dopaminergic activity in healthy subjects. Patients with prolactinomas have been described as exhibiting an altered dopaminergic tone and are often treated with dopamine agonists. Little is known about the personality traits of this patient group. Hence, we aimed at examining whether patients with prolactinomas exhibit modified personality patterns compared to patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas and healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study, 86 patients with prolactinomas and 58 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) were compared with 172 mentally healthy age- and gender-matched controls. To assess personality traits, standardized personality questionnaires (Eysenck personality questionnaire-EPQ-RK and Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire devised by Cloninger-TPQ) were administered. Patients with either prolactinomas or NFPA showed a distinct personality profile compared to the normal population, characterized by increased neuroticism and they also answered in a socially desirable mode. On harm-avoidant total and subscales, they presented with a higher fear of uncertainty and also increased f...Continue Reading
References
Impulsiveness and venturesomeness: their position in a dimensional system of personality description
Novelty seeking and harm avoidance in Parkinson's disease: effects of asymmetric dopamine deficiency
Pathological gambling associated with cabergoline therapy in a patient with a pituitary prolactinoma
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