Are personality patterns and clinical syndromes associated with patients' motives and perceived outcome of orthognathic surgery?

PURPOSE: A study of surgical-orthodontic patients was performed to assess whether signs of personality patterns and psychologically defined clinical syndromes influenced patients' motives for treatment, perceived oral function, self-concept, social interaction, and overall satisfaction with treatment.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The sample consisted of 92 adult surgical-orthodontic patients. They filled out 3 questionnaires from Kiyak et al: one on motives for treatment; another on perceived oral function, self-concept, and social interaction; and a third on satisfaction with treatment outcome. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III was used for classification of personality patterns and clinical syndromes.

RESULTS

Patients with signs of a schizoid personality pattern expressed stronger presurgical motives than other patients. Concerning self-concept and social interaction, the patients showing signs of personality patterns and clinical syndromes, in general, perceived themselves as worse than the other patients. However, differences were only evident before treatment. Overall satisfaction was independent of the psychological profile. Histrionic and narcissistic personality patterns seemed to be overrepresented among surgical-orthodontic patients compared with the general population.

CONCLUSION

Patients who showed signs of certain personality patterns and clinical syndromes improved most from treatment in terms of self-concept and social interaction, and such traits did not influence their degree of satisfaction.