A CONTROLLED INVESTIGATION OF CURRENT AND PREMORBID PERSONALITY - CHARACTERISTICS OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE PATIENTS

It has been suggested that before development of motor symptoms, Parki nson's disease (PD) patients with idiopathic display a specific cluste r of personality traits consisting of increased rigidity, conscientiou sness, industriousness, orderliness, and cautiousness. The idea of suc h a distinctive premorbid personality profile remains controversial. T his hypothesis was reexamined using a methodology that expands on prev ious studies. Patients with idiopathic PD, probable Alzheimer's Diseas e (AD), and medical controls with nonneurological chronic progressive motor disorders were rated by a close relative on the NEO-Personality Inventory (PI) to compare current and premorbid personality profiles. For PD and control subjects, current and past self-ratings were also o btained. Results do not support the postulated distinctive PD personal ity either premorbidly or following onset of symptoms. Both in terms o f the premorbid personality profile and perceived changes in personali ty postdating the onset of illness, PD patients are similar to AD pati ents. Though not differing from medical controls premorbidly, after de veloping symptoms, PD patients were described as less extroverted; les s exploratory and curious; and less organized, goal directed, and disc iplined.