A-22: Personality Functioning in a Memory Disorder Clinic Sample: The Role of Mood, Language, and Executive Functioning

Abstract

Objective: Personality functioning is understudied in neurocognitive disorders, and its relationships with health and functional outcomes are unclear. This study aimed to examine differences in personality functioning across diagnostic groups (i.e., Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Normal) in a memory disorder clinic sample and to explore associations with neuropsychological performance, mood, and functional abilities, to highlight the clinical relevance of personality functioning in this population. Method/Data Selection: Participants (N = 41; mean age 80.02, SD = 6.7) from a memory disorder clinic completed the Levels of Personality Functioning Scale–Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0; personality functioning), neuropsychological measures, and self-report mood questionnaires (Geriatric Anxiety Inventory [GAI], Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]). Due to non-normality and small samples, nonparametric analyses (Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman, Mann–Whitney U) and bootstrapped mediation (5,000 samples) were conducted. Results/Data Synthesis: Personality functioning did not differ across diagnostic groups (Kruskal–Wallis χ2 = 3.804, p = .149). LPFS scores were strongly associated with anxiety (ρ = .64, p < .001) and depression (ρ = .67, p < .001), but not with memory, functional ability, or demographics. Language comprehension showed a non-significant trend (ρ =-.30, p =.054). Cognitive inhibition was no longer significant when controlling for mood. Conclusions: Personality functioning in this sample appears more strongly associated with mood than with cognitive or demographic factors. Executive functioning effects were attenuated when accounting for anxiety and depression, suggesting emotional factors may underlie these relationships. Language abilities may contribute independently, although findings are preliminary. Results highlight the importance of considering mood in assessments of personality functioning in neurocognitive populations.