New research suggests that personality testing could help tailor treatment for people with bipolar disorder by predicting who is more likely to experience recurrent depression or struggle with daily life functioning. Analyzing data from over 2,500 individuals, researchers identified combinations of personality traits—called personality styles—that either increase or protect against long-term mental health risks.
High neuroticism consistently emerged as a risk factor, while low neuroticism and other balanced trait profiles appeared to be protective. These findings challenge the idea that personality is fixed and suggest that traits may be modifiable through therapy or coaching.
Using data from two long-term studies, researchers found that certain personality styles—combinations of personality traits—emerged as predictors of bipolar disorder outcomes. The ratio of protective personality styles to risk-elevating personality styles was especially important. Patients with low levels of neuroticism appeared to be especially protected against depression and poor life functioning.
The study’s findings have implications for personalized care in mental health treatment. Personality tests could guide tailored treatment planning, and patients could use the results to help understand their experience and work with their clinicians to modify traits that may raise their long-term risk of depression and poor life management.
Previous research on personality and bipolar disorder has focused on individual traits, but this study highlights the importance of considering joint effects of multiple personality traits. The ability to predict future depression and poor functioning from combined effects of personality traits can be clinically useful for identifying individuals at risk for poorer outcomes.
The study was funded by the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund and the Richard Tam Foundation, and its results have been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/personality-bipolar-disorder-28952