Early diagnosis of anxiety and depression may be facilitated by the use of neurobiological markers. In depression and panic disorder, transcranial sonography (TCS) has revealed decreased echogenicity of the brainstem raphe (BR). The aim of the present study was to detect whether decreased echogenicity of the BR correlates with personality features described in the five-dimension model, especially neuroticism. We examined 100 healthy volunteers using quantitative and qualitative TCS, the five-dimension revised NEO Personality Inventory, Beck´s scales of anxiety and depression, and the Social Re-adjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). Visual BR anechogenicity was found in 11 subjects, BR hypoechogenicity in 29 subjects, and normal BR echogenicity in 60 subjects. The visual assessment correlated with the digital assessment. Comparing the groups with visual BR anechogenicity and BR normoechogenicity, only increased SRRS score and increased agreeableness z-score were significant. Our hypothesis that BR hypoechogenicity reflects an inclination for depression and anxiety characterized by the personality dimension neuroticism was not supported. However, this disposition may be present in a different state, such as stress.

• MeSH
• Depressive Disorder diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   psychology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Brain Stem diagnostic imaging   physiology   MeSH
• Raphe Nuclei diagnostic imaging   physiology   MeSH
• Personality physiology   MeSH
• Personality Inventory MeSH
• Personality Disorders diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   psychology   MeSH
• Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial methods   MeSH
• Anxiety Disorders diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH