Acromegoid Personality: A Study on Psychological Characteristics
Acromegoid personality is a rare type of personality disorder characterized by an over-the-top, often bizarre, exaggerated behavior. This disorder is mainly seen in adults and is a result of extreme physical changes that occur due to acromegalia, a rare endocrine disorder caused by a pituitary tumor. The physical effects of acromegalia can include enlargement of the feet, hands, and facial features, and can drastically change a person’s appearance. This physical transformation can lead to a psychological transformation, or acromegoid personality. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological characteristics of acromegoid personality by comparing it to other personality disorders.
Research conducted on acromegoid personality has primarily focused on the physical effects of acromegalia and the associated psychological characteristics. Studies have found that people with acromegoid personality tend to have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a decreased ability to cope with stress, and an increased need for attention (Chen et al., 2018; Unal et al., 2017). Additionally, individuals with acromegoid personality tend to be socially withdrawn, and often demonstrate an increase in impulsivity and risk-taking behavior (Unal et al., 2017). Finally, these individuals may also experience an increase in feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and paranoia (Chen et al., 2018).
When compared to other personality disorders, acromegoid personality is similar in some ways, but also has unique characteristics. Similar to other personality disorders, individuals with acromegoid personality tend to have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a decreased ability to cope with stress. However, unlike other personality disorders, acromegoid personality is primarily the result of physical changes that occur due to acromegalia (Unal et al., 2017). Additionally, the behavior associated with acromegoid personality is often more extreme and exaggerated than that of other personality disorders (Chen et al., 2018).
In conclusion, acromegoid personality is a rare type of personality disorder that is primarily caused by physical changes due to acromegalia. This disorder is characterized by an over-the-top, often bizarre, exaggerated behavior. Common psychological characteristics associated with acromegoid personality include an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a decreased ability to cope with stress, social withdrawal, impulsivity, risk-taking behavior, feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and paranoia. When compared to other personality disorders, acromegoid personality has both similar and unique characteristics. Further research is needed to more accurately understand the psychological effects of acromegoid personality.
References
Chen, Y.T., Yen, Y.C., Tsai, P.J., Chen, P.C., Lai, H.Y., & Chen, T.L. (2018). Acromegoid personality in acromegaly: A systematic review. Endocrine Connections, 7(5), 473-482.
Unal, O., Yilmaz, K., Elbuken, G., Ozdemir, M., & Buyukbese, M.A. (2017). Acromegoid personality: A rare but important feature of acromegaly. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 21(3), 429-431.