Agreement Between Self- and Informant-Reported Ratings of Personality Traits: The Moderating Effects of Major Depressive and/or Panic Disorder

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016 Apr;204(4):306-13. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000448.

Abstract

Several personality traits are risk factors for psychopathology. As symptoms of psychopathology may influence self-rated personality, informant reports of personality are also sometimes collected. However, little is known about self-informant agreement in individuals with anxiety and/or depression. We investigated whether self-informant agreement on positive and negative affectivity (PA and NA) and anxiety sensitivity differs for individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and/or panic disorder (PD; total n = 117). Informant- and self-reported PA was correlated among those with MDD, but not among those without MDD. Informant- and self-reported anxiety sensitivity was correlated among those with PD, but not among those without PD. Informant- and self-reported NA was correlated irrespective of diagnosis. Results indicate that the agreement of self- and informant-reported personality may vary as a function of depression and/or anxiety disorders.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Panic Disorder / psychology*
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Regression Analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Report*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult