Scientists pinpoint the personality type which is most likely to have mental health problems

Up to one in three people may be what psychologists call a ‘highly sensitive person’ (HSP)—often dismissed as ‘thin-skinned’ or even a ‘drama queen.’

But HSPs could actually be wired differently, according to British scientists.

In world-first research involving more than 12,000 people, experts found those with high sensitivity were more likely to experience mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, than their less sensitive counterparts.

Experts labelled the discovery ‘important’ but stressed further research is needed to explore how sensitivity affects the success of different mental health treatments.

Tom Falkenstein, a psychotherapist at Queen Mary University of London and study co-author, said: ‘We found positive and moderate correlations between sensitivity and various mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia and avoidant personality disorder.

‘Our findings suggest that sensitivity should be considered more in clinical practice which could be used to improve diagnosis of conditions. In addition, our findings could help improve treatment for these individuals. 

‘HSPs are more likely to respond better to some psychological interventions than less sensitive individuals.

‘Therefore, sensitivity should be considered when thinking about treatment plans for mental health conditions.’ 

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An HSP is clinically defined as someone with ‘increased central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional or social stimuli’. Actress Nicole Kidman famously identifies as a HSP

An HSP is clinically defined as someone with ‘increased central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional or social stimuli.’

The term was coined in the mid-1990s by psychologist Elaine Aron, who published The Highly Sensitive Person. 

She theorised that HSPs may have a hyper-evolved sense of danger, likely the result of inherited genes, allowing them to ‘read’ other human emotions to an extraordinary degree.

Later research suggested HSPs may have higher levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, contributing to heightened responsiveness to stimuli, while other studies have cited childhood trauma as a potential cause.

Several high-profile figures, including actors Nicole Kidman and Miranda Hart, and most recently David Bowie’s artist daughter Lexi Jones, have spoken publicly about identifying as HSPs.

In the new research, scientists analysed 33 studies involving 12,697 adults and children over 12 years of age, with an average participant age of 25. 

They found HSPs were most likely to suffer depression and anxiety.    

Writing in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, the researchers said: ‘Sensitivity is significantly correlated with common mental-health outcomes. 

The term HSP was coined in the mid-1990s when psychologist Elaine Aron published her book The Highly Sensitive Person. Comedian Miranda Hart also identifies as a HSP

‘It is also noticeable that we found moderate and positive correlations with agoraphobia and avoidant personality disorder,’ the researchers said.

One explanation for the higher likelihood of HSPs experiencing anxiety may be their ‘depth of processing or their tendency to respond with overstimulation’, they added.

‘Depth of processing might reflect a tendency to worry about future outcomes or could lead to imagining possible future scenarios in a given situation that could account for some anxiety.

‘Depression, on the other hand, might be more dependent on the environmental factors.’

Professor Michael Pluess, an expert in developmental psychology at the University of Surrey and Queen Mary University of London and study co-author, said: ‘It is important to remember that highly sensitive people are also more responsive to positive experiences, including psychological treatment.

‘Our results provide further evidence that sensitive people are more affected by both negative and positive experiences and that the quality of their environment is particularly important for their well-being.’

The researchers, however, acknowledged the study had ‘several limitations’ including the fact the average age of study participants was 25 and most were ‘highly education young women’. 

This ‘overrepresentation of women’ may make it ‘difficult to predict whether the correlations observed could apply to a more diverse population’, they added.

Last year, NHS England said it was treating 55 per cent more under-18s than before the pandemic 

Heightened sensitivity may also be a ‘consequence of mental health problems’, researchers noted, which requires further research.

Finally, all studies analysed relied on participants self-reporting their feelings which could skew results, given they may have been ‘influenced by the participant’s specific level of introspection’. 

Latest statistics show that the number of people seeking help for mental illness has surged by two fifths since before the pandemic, reaching almost 4million. 

Meanwhile, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show almost a quarter of children in England now have a ‘probable mental disorder’ — up from one in the five in the previous year.

Last year, NHS England said it was treating 55 per cent more under-18s than before the pandemic. 

Dozens of studies have also recently highlighted how the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have hindered children’s development and may have exacerbated mental health issues. 

Youngsters from all economic backgrounds have suffered setbacks to their emotional and social development, researchers have found. 

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