Dissertation
Personality and neuropsychological functioning in non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00008774
Abstract
The literature on Parkinson's disease (PD) has included a discussion of a unique constellation of personality traits exhibited by patients both premorbidly and after the onset of the disease. Menza and colleagues have argued that damage to the dopaminergic system in PD results in a profile of personality traits characterized by low novelty seeking behaviors. This study further investigated the role of dopamine in personality functioning in non-demented PD patients using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The TCI scale, Novelty Seeking, is theoretically sensitive to dopamine activity. It was predicted that PD subjects would report significantly less novelty seeking behaviors for current and premorbid personality functioning in comparison to age-matched arthritic controls and healthy controls. In addition, the PD subjects were rated by their caregivers on the TCI. The relationship between personality and neuropsychological functioning in PD patients was also investigated. In general, results failed to find a unique PD personality profile characterized by low novelty seeking nor a relationship between personality and neuropsychological functioning. The degree to which methodological differences between this study and that of previous research were responsible for the findings is discussed. Implications for further research are proposed.
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Details
- Title
- Personality and neuropsychological functioning in non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease
- Creators
- Robyn J. Resh
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 146 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021888983304721