Personality Characteristics of Men with Narcolepsy Among Subject for Conscription Examination

Objectives The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess multiphasic personality inventory results of narcolepsy affecting mental health using military personality inventory in Korea. Method We registered the 19-year-old men who visited the Military Manpower Administration from February 2010 to January 2013. Results Among demographic characteristics, both narcolepsy and control groups are 19-year-old male. Education level and socioeconomic status are higher(χ2=4.23, p=0.04 ; χ2=17.94, p=0.001) in control group. BMI is higher(t=-3.10, p=0.002) in narcolepsy group. Parents relationship showed no difference between control and narcolepsy groups(χ2=7.57, p=0.06). Among validity scales, score of faking good subscale was higher(t=4.368, p<0.001) in control group, of faking bad subscale was higher(t=-2.497, p=0.013) in narcolepsy group, of infrequency subscale showed no difference(t=-0.466, p=0.642) between control and narcolepsy groups. Among neurosis scales, the score of somatization, depression, anxiety, and personality disorder subscales were higher in narcolepsy group, respectively(t=-4.721, p<0.001 ; t=-5.189, p<0.001 ; t=-6.068, p<0.001 ; t=-2.161, p=0.032). Among psychopath scales, the score of paranoia subscale was higher in narcolepsy group(t=-2.795, p=0.006), of schizophrenia subscale showed no difference (t=-0.687, p=0.493). Conclusion According to MPI results, we suggest that narcolepsy patients are more concerned with their somatic symptoms, more depressive and anxious, have more introverted or impulsive tendency and paranoid traits.