Impact of Anal Fissure on Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION

Scientific literature on determining patterns of personality traits in patients with anal fissure is limited.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether certain common psychological traits are associated with anal fissure.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in Spain in 2016-2017. Patients with acute or chronic idiopathic anal fissure (n = 35) and controls (n = 32) were recruited. The main outcome measures were those defined in the NEO-FFI questionnaire, validated in Spain, which was administered to all the participants. This questionnaire evaluates the following traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

RESULTS

Three significant traits were noted: (1) greater neuroticism in the cases (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08-1.32, p < 0.001, AUC 0.77), (2) greater openness to experience in the controls (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.98, p = 0.015, AUC 0.69), and (3) greater conscientiousness in the controls (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-1.00, p = 0.049, AUC 0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

The cases mainly presented higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of openness to experience and conscientiousness. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results.