Association of Personality Traits of Alcohol-dependent Patients with Their Psychiatric Comorbidities: A Cross-sectional Study from Central Rural India

Introduction: Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is a significant health problem all over the world. Alcohol-dependent individuals have a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities and nonadaptive personality traits that may influence the pathogenesis, treatment outcome, clinical course, and relapse of ADS. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the personality traits and psychiatric comorbidities of alcohol-dependent patients and to determine the association of personality traits with psychiatric comorbidities in ADS. Methodology: An observational study was conducted on 100 patients of ADS from Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi Wardha, Maharashtra. They were assessed through semi-structured sociodemographic pro forma, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview PLUS, and 16 Personality Factor Inventory. Results: Most of the patients scored high on personality traits such as dominance (67%), warmth (56%), sensitivity (70%), social boldness (56%), openness to change (65%), vigilance (77%), and perfectionism (52%) while they scored low on factors privateness (50%) and liveliness (35%). The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity was found to be 49%, with mood disorders (21%) being the most common diagnosis. Personality factors dominance (0.0001) and social boldness (0.042) were significantly associated with psychiatric comorbidities with P < 0.05. Conclusion: The personality traits and psychiatric comorbidity need to be addressed at the time of management to improve outcome.