The effect of state anxiety on personality measurement

Abstract

The authors examined the effect of state anxiety on the personality test scores of 56 patients receiving treatment for panic disorder and agoraphobia. The tests were administered before treatment and again 6 weeks later. For the 40 patients who improved by 5 or more points on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, significant changes in personality measures were observed at week 6, including increased emotional strength and extraversion and decreased interpersonal dependency. The authors conclude that state anxiety, like depression, is a possible confounding factor in personality measurement, and adjustment for it should be made in future studies.