Study Links Herpes Simplex-2-Positive Status with Specific Personality Traits
TORONTO—People who carry the herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) virus are less likely to avoid harm and more likely to seek novelty than those who are not HSV-2 positive, according to the first study to probe personality traits associated with HSV-2 seropositivity.
Researchers presented their findings May 17 at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting.
“Herpes virus has been shown to manipulate its host for its transmission,” researchers explained in their abstract. “In mice, it regulates dopamine and serotonin synthesis to cause hyper motility, excitation, and aggression. In humans, ganglion infection in genital herpes is speculated to alter the sensory input to sex organs, leading to enhanced libido and thus higher probability of virus transmission.”
To explore whether HSV-2 may change personality traits in people to increase the probability of its transmission, researchers recruited 1,000 adults who were psychiatrically healthy from the general population in Munich, Germany.
Using scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory, researchers found that increases in HSV-2 seropositivity were associated with a decrease in harm avoidance—specifically, anticipatory worry and fear of uncertainty. In addition, HSV-2 seropositivity was associated with increase in novelty seeking—in particular, extravagance.
The study was limited in that it could not establisht the direction of causality, the authors noted. They propose that futher longitudinal studies be conducted.
The research team consisted of lead author Neha Gupta, MD, and coauthors Thomas B. Cook, PhD, Ina Giegling, PhD, Annette M. Hartmann, PhD, Bettina Konte, PhD, Marion Friedl, MD, Maureen W. Groer, PhD, Sharvari Shivanekar, MD, Iqra Mohyuddin, Aamar Sleemi, MD, Dan Rujescu, MD, Teodor T. Postolache, MD.
—Jolynn Tumolo
Reference
“Association Between Herpes Simplex Virus-2 and Personality.” Abstract presented at the American Psychiatric Association Meeting. May 17, 2015.
