Structural Equation Modelling - Application to Personality, Depression and Brain Blood Flow
by
Robin M Turner
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury
Coauthors: Irene L Hudson (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury), Peter R Joyce (Department of Psychological Medicine, Chrisctchurch School of Medicine), Philip H Butler (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury)

The relationship between regional cerebral blood flow (SPECT), personality types (TCI-R) and psychological symptom severity (SCL-90) is an important key in the search to understanding some psychiatric disorders. We have used principal components analysis to create new personality and symptom constructs for 179 depressed patients. The measurements were repeated after six months when most patients had recovered. The stability across gender and time is tested for both personality and symptoms using various correlative techniques. We have used categorical, mixed and structural equation modelling (Bentler et al, Annual Review of Psychology, 1996, 47, 563-592) to investigate effects of time, gender and a possible differential change in time across gender. Modelling the interrelationship between personality and symptoms, as systematic maps, will be discussed. Results to date show a strong predictive link between the personality and symptom profiles which may have new implications to treatment of depression. SPECT (Costa, Vascular Medicine Review, 1990, 1:179-201) images have been obtained from 20 normal males along with personality and symptom data. Principal components analysis has been performed on the personality and symptom data and compared to the depressed male patients. The brain blood flow images will allow us to investigate links between personality differences and regions of brain activity. Mapping techniques (Friston, Functional Neuroimaging Technical Foundations, 1994, 79-93) will be introduced to relate the image domain to the psychometric variables.

Date received: July 30, 2000

Copyright © 2000 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cadt-11.