TYPE D PERSONALITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PATIENTS

<ns3:p>The concept of Type D personality was introduced in 1997 by Professor Johan Denollet, a clinical psychologist. He described the relationship between certain personality traits and susceptibility to somatic diseases and adaptation to them. This personality variant, also known as distressed, is characterized by a greater tendency to experience negative emotions and social withdrawal. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of Type D personality among patients using Primary Health Care (PHC) services and to determine the co-occurrence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in this group. A survey was conducted on 148 PHC patients. In the study group, 31% of individuals met the criteria for distressed personality, with results indicating significantly more frequent symptoms of anxiety and depression in these patients.</ns3:p>