To identify differences in personality traits (temperament and character) using Cloninger's typology according to the presence of physical illness (WONCA criteria).

404 subjects, without psychiatric pathology, from Asturias (Northern Spain) were included in the study [50% men; mean age (SD)= 40.5 (11.3)]. Assessments were made using an ad hoc interview (socio-demographic and clinical data), and the Spanish versions of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (DSM-IV criteria) (Sheehan et al., 1997), and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) (Cloninger et al., 1994).

154 (38.1%) subjects have at least one diagnosis of physical illness. Subjects with physical illness scored significantly higher in: i) temperament scales: harm avoindance (HA) (17.02 vs 15.76, t= -1.968; p= 0.050); fatigability and asthenia (HA4) (3.56 vs 2.82, t= -3.652; p< 0.000), ii) character scales: transpersonal (ST2) (3.91 vs 3.26, t= -2.900; p= 0.004). However, they scored significantly lower in: i) temperament scales: attachment (RD3) (5.18 vs 5.70, t= 2.346; p= 0.019), ii) character scales: responsibility (SD1) (5.57 vs 5.96, t= 1.984; p=0.048); purposeful (SD2) (5.43 vs 5.84, t= 2.092; p= 0.037); cooperativeness (C) (31.52 vs 33.26, t= 3.166; p< 0.000); social acceptance (C1) (6.50 vs 6.89, t= 2.536; p= 0.012); empathy (C2) (4.81 vs 5.18, t= 2.484; p= 0.013); compassion (C4) (7.44 vs 7.94, t= 2.190; p= 0.019); pure-hearted (C5) (6.55 vs 7.06, t= 3.225; p= 0.001). No other significant differences were found between the groups.

Our data suggest that physical illness might influence personality traits in non-psychiatric population.