Depression and neuroticism in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of depressive symptomatology and personality traits with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods: The sample comprised of 300 individuals (Mage=65.3±8.7 years, 61.0% female) recruited from the offices of 33 general practitioners. Based on at-rest ankle-brachial index (ABI) values and claudication symptoms, four subsamples were formed: clear PAD-positive, clear PAD-negative, ABI-negative but symptomatic, and a non-compressible-artery group. The concurrent role of depression (assessed by a shortened version of the Beck Depression Inventory), and five-factor personality traits (measured with the Big Five Inventory) in predicting PAD status was examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis – controlled for sex, age, hypertonia, diabetes, smoking, hazardous drinking, and body mass index. Results: Depressive symptomatology was significant in predicting peripheral arterial disease status even after controlling for both traditional risk factors and personality traits. Among the Big Five personality traits, neuroticism showed the most consistent relationship with PAD – independently of depression. Conclusions: Patients with PAD – even those with asymptomatic forms of the disease – are at higher risk for suffering from depression compared to individuals without PAD, independently of neuroticism, other Big Five personality dimensions or traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.