The analysis of a personality profile of selected groups of nurses

AIM

The analysis of a personality profile of selected groups of Polish nurses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

72 nurses working in internal diseases departments and departments of surgery in Szczecin were investigated. To examine the personality profiles a diagnostic survey was used. It was based on an authorised Polish elaboration of Cattell's 16 Personality Factors Test. To examine their personality profile an authorised Polish elaboration of a diagnostic survey based on a standardized elaboration of personality profiles by Raymond B. Cattell was used.

RESULTS

The analysis of the results indicated no significant differences between groups. The average sten scores from each of 16 examined factors were within the established limits.

CONCLUSIONS

The personality profiles of the examined groups of nurses indicated a greater probability of the appearance of desirable features among the investigated people working in medical professions and demanding team cooperation, as well as relationship-building skills. Nurses, regardless of workplace, had personality traits indicating the need for education and improving occupational qualifications.

Personality and social adjustment of medical cadets, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine

OBJECTIVE

To determine personality and ability of social adjustment of medical cadets, Phramongkutkao College of Medicine. In addition, the factors influencing social adjustment in these medical cadets were evaluated.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study population consisted of 45 medical cadets in their second year of a 6-year medical curriculum of Phramongkutkao College of Medicine. All study medical cadets gave written informed consent. The medical cadets completed a baseline assessment including a standardized questionnaire for general information and social adjustment. Personality traits were determined by a standard personality test, the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF).

RESULTS

The personalities of medical cadets were in between reserved and outgoing socially aware, concerns, shrewd and practical. The ability of social adjustment in these medical cadets was high. Social adjustment was significantly different between medical cadets who received different scholarships. Social adjustment of the medical cadets was positively correlated with personalities: factor C (emotionally stable), factor I (sensitivity), factor G (group conformity), factor H (social boldness), and factor Q3 (self-control), but negatively correlated with factor M (abstractedness), and factor Q2 (self-sufficiency).

CONCLUSION

This study presents the unique personalities of medical cadets. Social adjustment is significantly different between medical cadets with different source of scholarships. Longitudinal study of the influence of personality and social adjustment on academic performance needs to be performed.

Effects of toxoplasma on human behavior

Although latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii is among the most prevalent of human infections, it has been generally assumed that, except for congenital transmission, it is asymptomatic. The demonstration that latent Toxoplasma infections can alter behavior in rodents has led to a reconsideration of this assumption. When infected human adults were compared with uninfected adults on personality questionnaires or on a panel of behavioral tests, several differences were found. Other studies have demonstrated reduced psychomotor performance in affected individuals. Possible mechanisms by which T. gondii may affect human behavior include its effect on dopamine and on testosterone.

[New trends in the classification of personality disorders]

The author makes an overview of the latest theoretical developments and of the critical views on the current classification of personality disorders. The major topics of the ongoing debate over the typology of personality disorders as presented by DSM-IV-TR are listed as the difficulties that remain in clarifying the clinical criteria, despite the clinical assessment tools and the self-assessment questionnaires that are usually employed in research. The solution to the dilemma categorical vs. dimensional in personality disorders taxonomy, as suggested by some current authors in dimensionally quantifying the diagnosis criteria for the classic types of personality disorders has received much attention. But the relevant practical solutions need more longitudinal future studies done on a congruent agenda.

[Personality profile of patients with anxiety disorder, as studied with the 16PF Cattell's questionnaire and Cloninger's TCI]

The aim of the present study is a characterisation of the personality dimensions of patients with anxiety disorder.

METHOD

Personality of 103 patients with different mixed ICD-10 diagnosis of anxiety disorders (79 females, 24 males, mean age: 38 +/- 12 years) were studied and compared to 183 healthy controls (117 females, 66 males, mean age: 35 +/- 14) using the 16 PF Cattell's Questionnaire and Cloninger's TCI. Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-evaluation of the Beck's Depression Scale were also applies.

RESULTS

Levels of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in patients. It was found that patients with anxiety disorders scored higher in Cattell's following factors: O, Q4 and lower in: C, E, F, H, Q3 when compared to standard population norms. Following TCI scales differentiated the personality of patients when compared to the controls: A significant increase of all HA subscales, decrease of NS in females and NS1 in both female and male patients, increase in RD1 and decrease in RD3 in patients, decrease of P, SD, C (except C4 and C5 subscales) were observed.

CONCLUSION

Both TCI and 16 PF describe similar traits in the personality of patients with anxiety disorders, and are helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of therapy.

Multivariate analyses of the profile stability of intelligence tests: high for IQs, low to very low for subtest analyses

Profile stability involves the consistency of a set of scores over time. That is, does a profile of scores change on retesting and does this change affect clinical decisions? While psychologists routinely examine the reliability of individual scores, little research has examined the stability of a profile or set of scores. The first study described in this paper examined potential measures of profile stability using a simulation computer program. The results suggest that several measures show promise in this context, particularly Cattell's coefficient of pattern similarity (r(p)), salient variable similarity index (S), and the D(2) coefficient. In the second study, selected measures of profile stability were applied to Wechsler test-retest data. The results suggest that profiles composed of IQ and index scores demonstrate acceptable stability and can be usefully interpreted in clinical and research situations. However, subtest score profiles are inherently less stable and provide little useful clinical information.

Personality characteristics of South African Navy submarine personnel

This study aimed to determine the extent to which the Institute of Personality and Ability Testing Anxiety Scale and the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire can be used to describe successful submariners in the South African Navy. The Anxiety Scale scores were within normal limits when the profiles of 85 submariners were analyzed to describe the personality characteristics of submarine personnel. Although no significant factors were found, the results indicate that four personality factors appeared to be most descriptive of the sample. They were adventurousness, confidence, group orientation, and self-sentiment. These factors appeared appropriate when discussed from an environmental demand perspective.

Psychologic factors and oral lichen planus. A psychometric evaluation of 100 cases

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the importance of psychologic factors in patients with oral lichen planus, and attempts were made to identify possible personality features characteristic of patients with oral lichen planus.

STUDY DESIGN

The study involved 100 patients with oral lichen planus (group 1) and 50 control subjects (group 2). We applied the following psychometric tests to both groups: Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Cattell Personality Questionnaire 16PF, Hassanyeh Rating of Anxiety-Depression-Vulnerability, Beck Depression Inventory, Raskin Depression Screen, and Covi Anxiety Screen.

RESULTS

The patients with oral lichen planus were found to exhibit greater anxiety, as reflected by statistically significant scores with the anxiety tests that were used (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Cattell Personality Questionnaire 16PF, Hassanyeh Rating of Anxiety-Depression-Vulnerability, and Covi Anxiety Screen). The patients with oral lichen planus likewise exhibited greater depression than the controls in all 3 depression tests applied (Beck Depression Inventory, Hassanyeh Rating of Anxiety-Depression-Vulnerability, and Raskin Depression Screen) and were more vulnerable to psychic disorders on the basis of the PD subscales (vulnerability) of the Hassanyeh questionnaire. Three features (conformity to the group, astuteness, and rebelliousness) defined the personalities of our patients with oral lichen planus, according to the Cattell 16PF questionnaire. Finally, those patients with erosive lichen planus exhibited higher depression scores than patients with nonerosive lichen planus.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the higher anxiety scores observed in patients with oral lichen planus, it was not established that the observed psychologic alterations constitute a direct etiologic factor of oral lichen planus; nor was it established that such alterations are a consequence of oral lichen planus and its lesions.

Oral awareness and ability to detect dental plaque

Individuals exist who are unaware of the plaque on their teeth and unable to feel with their tongue any difference between tooth surfaces that are smooth and plaque free and those that are irregular or rougher because of a plaque coating. Oral form recognition (OFR), oral roughness discrimination (ORD) and plaque detection ability were examined in 46 undergraduate dental students. Forty-five of the students also completed Form C of Cattell's 16 PF Questionnaire. No relationship was found between the subjects' ability to detect dental plaque and their skills at either distinguishing between different surface roughnesses or recognizing forms orally. The association between personality and oral awareness was unclear.

[Personality and acute myocardial infarction: distinctive traits]

AIM OF THE STUDY

Aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of peculiar personality traits in patients with acute myocardial infarction as compared with normal subjects.

METHODS

The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) by Cattell (D form) is administered to 654 patients (558 males, 96 females) hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction in 16 coronary care units and to 398 normal subjects (261 males, 137 females). The diagnosis of myocardial infarction is made according to the presence of at least two of the following criteria: prolonged chest pain, elevation of CPK and CPKMB (twice the upper normal values), Q wave on the electrocardiogram. The normality of the control group is assured by specific exclusion criteria (cardiac or psychiatric disease, metabolic and endocrine disease, continued therapeutic treatment for any organic disease, or continued assumption of hypnotic and/or anxiolytic drugs).

RESULTS

In comparison with the control group, infarcted males result significantly different for factors C, N, Q1, Q4 (p < 0.001), for factors B, O (p < 0.01) and A, H, I (p < 0.05). Females with myocardial infarction differ significantly for factors C, O and I (p < 0.05). Four second-order factors is obtained from Cattell's 16 PF by factorial analysis: QI (anxiety), QII (extroversion), QIII (sensitivity), QIV (superego strength). The infarcted population shows statistically significant differences compared with controls: infarcted males show higher QI (p < 0.001) and lower QII and QIII (p < 0.05) while infarcted females have higher QI (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These differences confirm that peculiar personality traits can be found in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In particular, infarcted males are emotionally unstable, anxious, rigid and depressed, and have problems in communication with others; infarcted females differ from the normal population for being emotionally unstable, anxious and for having a less flexible mental disposition. The higher anxiety level in patients with acute myocardial infarction may be related to the neuroticism that, in other studies, has been often found to be associated with cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, with respect to the normal population, patients with acute myocardial infarction appear to be anxious introverts, with conflictual personality.

Personality factors and the practice of anaesthesia: a psychometric evaluation

The purpose of this study was to examine personality profiles of Canadian anaesthetists and to investigate the role of personality variables in anaesthetist's job satisfaction. Three hundred and thirty senior Canadian anaesthetists completed the Cattell 16PF personality inventory. A brief demographic questionnaire inquired about special interests and job satisfaction. This paper reports the initial analysis of the replies. Most anaesthetists were very satisfied with their work. Female anaesthetists are more tender-minded, sensitive and over-protective than their male colleagues.

[The significance of emotional processes in man in the mechanisms of analyzing the effect of varying contrast stimulation]

We estimated the role of emotional processes in regulation of the structural afferentation of varying contrast in healthy young subjects by means of VEP recording and investigation of Cattell factors (C and Q4). The amplitude of N70 in all the subjects and that of N150 in subjects with the high stress characteristics were in a direct ratio with the contrast of the stimuli. For the persons with the low stress characteristics an inverse ratio was observed in the occipital-parietal leads while in the frontal areas a switching-over control mechanism was manifested.

The influence of basal anxiety on unstimulated parotid and submandibular saliva

Stress modifies numerous physiological variables, such as salivary secretion. The relation between salivary constituents, biophysical variables and personality traits defined by the Cattell's anxiety scale was studied. The main result was, that in the absence of stress, no statistically significant differences are to be found between the three groups defined on the Cattell scale.

[Overt and latent restlessness and the awareness of the meaning of life in patients with valvular heart disease]

By means of R. B. Cattell Self-Knowledge Sheet and Crumbough and Miholick Scale of the Awareness of the Meaning of Life, 25 patients were examined, prepared for surgical correction of valvular heart disease. By means of R.B. Cattell Self-Knowledge Sheet a group was isolated of patients showing high overt restlessness (OR) and high latent restlessness (LR). It was shown that the personalities of these two groups of patients demonstrated numerous common features, but very significant differences also existed. The patients with high latent restlessness (LR) demonstrated strong emotional tension caused by frustration, feeling of inferiority with low self-estimation, as well as many conflicts at super ego level, but they had strong defensive mechanisms of own personality. The patients with high overt restlessness (OR) revealed high degree of intensification of the feeling of isolation, loneliness, and existential emptiness resulting from the lost feeling of the meaning of further existence with the progress of disease. The results of our studies are guidelines for the choice of psychotherapeutic management of patients qualified for operation of valvular heart disease.

[Evaluation of selected personality factors in patients with bronchial asthma]

Psychological factors an important role in the development and clinical course of the bronchial asthma. Therefore, an effect of the selected personality features on the course of the bronchial asthma have been studied. The study included 91 asthmatic patients and 30 persons of the control group. Three psychological tests have been used: Wiskad-MMPI. Cattell's Self-Cognition Chart, and Eysenck's Personality Inventory translated by Chojnowski. The study has shown, that asthmatic patients are characterized by the high level of anxiety and marked emotional imbalance, especially female patients. Emotions are suppressed and neglected by the asthmatic patients. These attitude should be considered in psychotherapy of such patients.

[Empirical study of enuresis: clinical features and personality]

The aim of this study is the descriptive analysis of the symptom "enuresis" in a sample of children with diverse psychopathological alterations and its relationship with the personality features. The results obtained have been shown in a sample of 225 children (120 M, 105 f) whose ages are between 8 and 12 years. The diagnoses have been achieved in the clinical psychological ward for children in Virgen de la Arrixaca hospital, Psychiatric Section. They have been classified into three diagnostic categories: 1. Emotional disorders. 2. Behavioural disorders. 3. Other disorders. The personality feature of these children has been studied with the help of the application of the Cattell Questionnaire-CPQ, using 13 primary factors of personality.

[The role of psychological examinations of candidates for the Military Medical Academy]

The basic purpose of the work was determination of personality factors of the lack of adaptation ability in the academy and the same time checking the usefulness of psychological prognosis in the range of adaptative abilities at the Military Medical Academy. R.B. Cattell's Personality Questionnaire and H. Gough's Psychological Investory were applied in the investigations in the period of recruitment. Conclusions point explicitly to the dependence between the level of maturity of the personality structure and adaptative abilities and confirm the usefulness of psychological prognosis in the time of the selection of candidates to Military Medical Academy.

Young long distance runners. Physiological and psychological characteristics

This study presents the physiological and psychological characteristics and the running histories of 16 subjects who began long distance running at age 4-12 years. Running duration was 3-15 years (mean 8.4 +/- 3.6 yrs). Seven children completed 41 marathons, seven 30-mile races, and eight 60-mile races. The other nine competed at shorter distances. All trained at 30-105 miles/week. Two stress fractures, one back sprain and one knee injury occurred. Athletes who reported injuries from recollection may have underreported some injuries. At age 15.4 +/- 4.2 years bone age was 15.3 +/- 2.6 years and height was at 51 +/- 26.0 percentile. Athletes had larger left ventricular diastolic diameter, higher max O2 uptake, and delayed onset of anaerobic metabolism compared to controls. Psychological profile: IQ = 121 +/- 11, scholastic grade point average (GPA) (n = 13) was less than or equal to 3.0 in four, 3.6-3.9 in four, and 4.0 in five. Cattell 16 personality factor (PF): Seven scored above the 85th percentile on boldness, warmth, conformity, sensitivity, dominance, and high drive with tension. Eight scored above the 93rd percentile for self discipline and emotional stability. Human Figure Drawing showed a distorted body image in seven. Two developed anorexia nervosa, and another girl committed suicide. Thus, high physical fitness and no growth retardation were observed. These runners, however, shared distinct positive and negative personality characteristics. The relatively high incidence of severe psychological disorders possibly suggests a need for psychological screening for young children entering a strenuous training program and for close monitoring for development of psychological problems during the program.

[The use of spare time and personality]

This paper intends a comparative analysis of personality traits likely to be found in two groups of subjects, namely people happy, or unhappy with the use they make of their spare time. The random-selected, quota sampling sample involved 300 Argentine subjects (37% male subjects, 63% female subjects) aged 15 to 22, from different social-economic levels. All subjects were living in the city of Buenos Aires. The technique of profile analysis for 2 independent groups was applied. Once the hypothesis of parallelism was refuted, it was decided that the simple variance technique should be resorted to. From the 16 variance analysis performed (i.e. one for each personality factor), statistically significant differences--with a 5% risk level--were found out among the groups as regards the following factors only: Factor C (Emotional instability, or Ego weakness-Higher ego strength), Factor H (Threctia-Parmia), Factor O (Untroubled adequacy-Guilt proneness), and Factor Q4 (Low ergic tension-High ergic tension).

[Methods of defense against anxiety and self concept of patients with leukemia]

Comparison of the level of anxiety with advice in threatening situations was studied in the leukaemia patients. The tests involved 60 patients (32 man, 28 woman), mean age 42 years. Anxiety level was established with the aid of a 10-grade scale of self-score of anxiety--Self Cognition by Cattell--and self-concept by ACL Gough's (Adjective Check List). Analysis of the results have shown, that the highest level of anxiety leads to disintegration self-concept, while repression technique of anxiety reduction leads to compensation self-concept. Both play a role in adaptation process. Psychotherapy of such patients aim at decreasing the level of anxiety and neutralization to negative changes in self-concept of the patients.

Performance of agoraphobic families vs. non-agoraphobic families on the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)

This study investigated whether the personality variables, as measured by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), differed significantly between families with an agoraphobic parent and families with nonagoraphobic parents. Participants were 15 agoraphobic female parents and 5 male agoraphobic parents, their spouses, and children. Two matched control groups of subjects (comparable to the female agoraphobic and male agoraphobic families) were used. Significant differences in personality variables were found between the families with agoraphobic parents and their matched controls. Significant personality differences among family members in the agoraphobic family were evident, and they also differed according to whether the agoraphobic parent was female or male.

[Psychological indices and longevity]

Among 63 former prisoners of war, aged 54 to 65 years, submitted to a psychometric battery, 16 died within the next three years. The comparison of the deceased and surviving groups indicates that personality variables (MMPI) are more predictive of death than mental deterioration.

[Factor analysis of the structure of nocturnal sleep and the results of psychodiagnostic examination in man]

Factor analysis was carried out of sleep structure and results of complex psychodiagnostic study in 35 subjects. Seven orthogonal factors were singled out. It is shown that alarm level is connected with fast sleep general presentation; the system of psychological defences is linked with the fast sleep in the second cycle; the self-control in alert state and the transfer from alertness to sleep are interrelated, and duration of the first and last sleep cycles are reciprocally connected.

16PF research into addiction: meta-analysis and extension

Meta-analysis of 34 studies on Cattell's 16PF test reveals ragged egos (C-), guilt (O), distrust (L), frustration (Q4), alienation (G-), vague identity (Q3-), alarm (H-), resentment (Q1), quasi-autism (M), scattered intellect (B-), grandiosity (E), autonomy (Q2), infantilism (I), avoidance (A-), and deviousness (N). The aberrant scores on E, G, I, Q1, and Q2 discriminate addicts from suicidals and the chronically ill or unemployed. We found nine types of addicts in our developmental study of 83 members of Alcoholics Anonymous. On the more stable second-order 16PF factors, 43% were highest on Autonomous, 37% on Desperate, 16% on Tough Poise, and 4% on Extravert. Profiles differed more by sexual preference than by gender. Recidivism was highest among homosexual men (38%) and the desperate (25%). Only the Fourth and Fifth Steps of the AA program seem crucial to recovery. Treatment programs based on these and tailored to sexual preference and the second-order personality types seem highly advisable.

16PF items discriminating recidivists and long-term recovered polyaddicts

Responses to 65 of the 187 items on Cattell's 16PF test were skewed by 83 members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Seventeen of those items had significantly different distributions when the 18 recidivists were compared to the 8 who had remained clean of all addictive substances and compulsive behaviors during the 2-year period studied. Another 14 items had significantly different distributions when the recidivists were compared to all the others. Comparisons with non-drug-disadvantaged groups and non-AA recovering addicts are suggested in order to isolate empirical predictor items for "addictive" versus "cured" scales.

Low-back pain: a psychosomatic clinical study

Most studies relating psychological factors to low-back pain have been done on subjects already referred to psychiatry. This study addresses 27 patients who had undergone their first lumber discoidectomy and never had any contact with psychiatry. They were submitted to a threefold assessment in order to find psychosocial criteria that could discriminate good- from bad-outcome subjects. It was found that a bad outcome was related to: a difficulty in perceiving and expressing affects, some financial compensation, high rating on pain assessment tests.

[Psychological aspects of increased patient participation in prophylactic programs on treating arterial hypertension]

The MMPI and 16-PF scales were used in assessing 146 patients with first- and second-stage essential hypertension, according to the WHO classification. It was shown that the degree of patients' compliance was related to their personality features. The results of the study may be useful in determining differential psychotherapeutic approaches, geared specifically to the patients who declined or discontinued treatment. The practicability of a more active psychotherapeutic influence and individual psychotropic therapy for hypertensive patients involved in large-scale preventive programs is pointed out.

Electric aversion and individualized imagery therapy in alcoholism: a controlled experiment

Alcoholic patients were randomly assigned to a supplementary treatment program involving individualized imagery of drinking situations which were then either associated with painful electric shock or with sham shock. This was in addition to a general treatment program for alcoholism including relaxation training. On a long-term follow-up, no differences were demonstrable between the treatment groups. However, patients who did better had originally scored higher on the 16 PF Personality Test in terms of being more calm, self-reliant, placid and disciplined. This was independent of the treatment group to which they had been assigned. This study provides no evidence for the efficacy of electric aversion therapy under the conditions that they were used.

Psychometric comparisons of trainees and consultants in anaesthesia and psychiatry

Two psychometric tests were taken by trainees in anaesthesia and psychiatry, and by consultant practitioners in these specialties. The Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire measured primary and secondary aspects of personality. The Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory assessed interests, and compared the results with those of the test's control subjects who worked satisfactorily in one of 162 occupations. All clinician groups scored highly in intelligence, innovation, self-sufficiency, and interests in the arts and medical science. Anaesthetic trainees were very similar to psychiatric trainees except in the quality, tender-mindedness, in which the psychiatrists' mean score was much higher. Trainee anaesthetists closely resembled consultants in that specialty, except that the younger group was more apprehensive and less conscientious. Consultant anaesthetists were more conscientious, realistic, conventional, and had more "tough-poise" than consultant psychiatrists, who were higher in social interests and tender-mindedness. These differences appear to be largely the result of the types of practice in these specialties, rather than reasons people chose their fields. It is unlikely that these tests would be useful in the process of trainee selection, but the possibility that psychometric tests could be devised for that purpose must be considered.

Activity/disengagement revisited: personality types in the aged

Different patterns of personality in old age were examined in an aged community sample of 82 subjects (mean age 79.6 years). Four personality patterns in old age were identified using multivariate techniques. They were the normal, the introverted, the perturbed and the matured integrated. The clinical implications of personality types in old age are discussed; the perturbed group are most likely to develop psychiatric disorder.

The personality pattern of patients with chronic peptic ulcer. A case-control study

The personality assessment of 96 patients with gastric ulcer (GU) and 70 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) was carried out using the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF). Two control groups were used; one group comprised community controls and the other patient controls--that is, patients with cholelithiasis. Three of the four personality characteristics that distinguished female GU and/or DU patients from controls--emotional instability, tension, and anxiety--and the two characteristics that distinguished male GU patients--low enthusiasm and low self-control--are components of neuroticism. Female GU patients in exacerbation resembled those in remission, and GU and DU patients had similar personality profiles. Although a distinct personality pattern has yet to be identified in peptic ulcer, the results of this study and others suggest that both GU and DU are associated with the personality abnormalities of anxiety and neuroticism.

Speech-language clinician personality variables and clinical effectiveness

The relationship between judged clinical effectiveness and personality variables as determined by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was studied in a population of 130 female graduate students in speech-language pathology from nine universities in six different states. An MMPI profile analysis for the total group indicated that the group was similar to other female graduate student populations and that the typical student, while being manifestly normal, might be described as being rather passive, compliant, stereotypically feminine, sensitive, anxious, highly imaginative, creative, and energetic. Although no single MMPI scale was found to differentiate between subject clinical effectiveness groups, the subjects' MMPI profiles were found to predict accurately the clinical effectiveness group to which the subjects were assigned.

Personality and performance in psychiatric education

An attempt was made in this study to develop a composite profile of personality characteristics of medical students that correlated differentially with successful achievement outcomes in the Psychiatry CLerkship at a University of Toronto teaching hospital. Data on 27 of 33 final year medical students in a psychiatry rotation programme were used to analyse canonical correlations between personality and achievement variables. The findings of the study indicated that success in clinical examinations was significantly correlated (R = 0.64, P less than 0.001) with a personality defined as apprehensive, anxious and less neurotic. Success on oral examinations was significantly correlated (R = 0.37, P less than 0.01) with a personality defined as anxious, more neurotic and extroverted. Success in objective multiple choice tests was not significantly correlated (R = 0.21, P = 0.10) with any particular personality profile, but the direction of the correlations suggested a personality describable as less intelligent (concrete thinking), apprehensive, adjusted and introverted. Although the small sample makes conclusions tentative, the findings are that students' personality differentially affect their examination results.

[Argentine norms for the 16 PF test taken by subjects 17 to 20 years old]

This test was administered to a sample of 314 17 years old Argentine subjects (157 boy and 157 girls), and to another sample of 240 Argentine subjects, consisting of 127 boys and 113 girls of 20 years of age. Means, standard deviations and percentile ranks for both samples were obtained. To compare groups of different sex and age test of significance for mean differences of independent samples were applied. Boys obtained scores significantly higher than girls, without taking into consideration the age, in Factors C (lower ego strength-higher ego strength), E (submissiveness-dominance), H (threctia-parmia), Q1 (conservativism of temperament-radicalism) and Q3 (low self-sentiment integration - high strength of self sentiment). Contrarywise, girl showed scores significantly higher than boys of the same age in factors I (harria-premsia), N (artlessness-shrewdness), O (untroubled adequacy-guilt proneness) and Q4 (low ergic tension-high ergic tension).

[Selected psychological studies in Horton's headache]

Thirty-one patients with Horton's headaches and a control group of 31 healthy subjects were investigated by means of the 16-factor personality Questionnaire of R. B. Cattell. The group of 31 patients were investigated additionally with the tests of Benton, Bender and the Intelligence Scale Wechsler-Bellevue. Personality questionnaires demonstrated in patients with Horton's headaches a fairly high intensity of factors G and Q4 (frustration of lower needs blocked by higher needs). No changes were found which could suggest presence of cerebral microlesions in the group with Horton's headaches. In the tests for intellectual efficiency the mean results pointed to a slightly above average general intelligence level in patients with Horton's neuralgia and reduced ability of memory, concentration and learning speed.

Validation of the 16 PF in a psychiatric setting

Used the 16 PF in a group screening battery for psychiatric inpatients. Validation was carried out using psychiatric diagnoses as the criterion. Four hundred and sixty-three patients were grouped into eight traditional diagnostic groups. Discriminant analysis was used to predict group membership and multivariate profile analysis was used to compared group means. No differences in profile elevation or shape were found, and four discriminant functions could classify correctly only 22% of the patients. Results indicated that the 16 PF is unsuitable for discriminating among psychiatric diagnostic groups.