Personality Development since Childhood Associated with Adult Chronic Insomnia: A Study by Wang’s Memory-Tracing Personality Development Inventory (WMPI)

OBJECTIVE- This study aimed to analyze the deviation in normal personality development in chronic insomnia patients.MATERIAL & METHODS- Eighty-one patients with chronic insomnia and 290 healthy controls were assessed with Wang’s Memory Tracing Personality Development Inventory (WMPI). Differences between the two groups were explored to identify developmental characteristics.RESULTS- Significant differences were found in three phases. During the chronological ages of 3-6 years old, the differences are relatively minor, and manifest in a lower independence level in patients (p<0.05). In older individuals, personality development deficits present mainly as abnormal thinking, excessive interpersonal anxiety, and less independence (p<0.05). Subjects of different ages present with their own developmental characteristics. Generally, patients younger than 36 years of age had a lower developmental level in independence and across emotional dimensions. In summary, there are significant differences in personality development between primary insomniacs and healthy controls (p<0.05).CONCLUSION- Individuals are prone to develop chronic insomnia in adulthood if they exhibit a deviation from normal, or expected, personality development while in childhood. Abnormal development of personality correlates with the incidence of chronic insomnia. Subjects with lower independence in self-cognition tend to pursue perfectionism which may associate with a predisposition for chronic insomnia. Patients at different ages present different characteristics in personality development.