Psychobiological personality traits in adults with disorders of arousal: A case–control study

Disorders of arousal (DOA) are parasomnias occurring during Non-REM Sleep (NREM), stemming from incomplete arousal from slow wave sleep and resulting in diverse, complex emotional and motor behaviours. Growing evidence suggests that distinct psychopathological traits play a role in the multifaceted genesis of these occurrences. This multicentre study aims to characterize the personality profiles of adults with and without DOA using the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. We included 39 patients diagnosed with DOA (mean age = 30.9 ± 10.2 years, 22 females) and 40 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender (mean age of 32.4 ± 11.6 years, 21 females). Participants completed the Paris Arousal Disorder Severity Scale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Sleep Condition Indicator, and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Higher levels of Harm Avoidance, Reward Dependence, and Persistence were predictive of the occurrence of DOA, as were elevated Anticipatory Worry and Attachment, and low Self-directedness. These findings support the hypothesis that certain psychobiological personality traits may be associated with the occurrence of DOA. To deepen our understanding, prospective studies are essential, aiming to delve into the causal relationship between the psychopathological profile and the clinical manifestation of DOA and assess the impact of targeted psychological interventions on DOA symptomatology.