Psychologic Comparisons Between Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Their Nonarthritic Sisters

Patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis were compared with their closest‐aged, same‐sexed healthy siblings on a variety of personality trait dimensions specifically hypothesized as important in arthritics by previous investigators, and results indicated that arthritis consistently showed more compliance and subservience, nervousness and restlessness, depression, conservatism and security, and sensitivity than their siblings.

Abstract

Sixteen female patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis were compared with their closest-aged, same-sexed healthy siblings on a variety of personality trait dimensions specifically hypothesized as important in arthritics by previous investigators. Both personality tests and interview ratings were utilized to measure the dimensions. Results indicated that arthritics consistently showed more compliance and subservience, nervousness and restlessness, depression, conservatism and security, and sensitivity (to anger) than their siblings. Similarities and differences between these and previous results were discussed, as was a new measurement technique for testing hypotheses about possible situation-specific manifestations of personality trait differences between groups.