Objective: Essential hypertension (EH) is a cardiovascular disease with psychological etiopathogenesis. We examined the temperament, depression, anxiety and alexithymia levels of patients with essential hypertension.

Material and Method: The study included 50 healthy controls and 50 patients diagnosed with essential hypertension. Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Form, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were applied to all participants.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between BAI and BDI scores between both groups (p =0.112; p =0.150). Total and subscale TCI scores are significantly higher in the essential hypertension patient group compared to the healthy control group (p <0.001; p =0.006; p <0.001; p <0.001). In the temperament and character inventory, the extravagance-frugality subscale scores in the novelty-seeking scale (p =0.008) and the empathy and virtuousness subscale scores in the cooperation scale were significantly lower in the patient group when compared to the control (p =0.007; p =0.021).

Conclusion: The study findings revealed differences between the alexithymia levels, temperament, and character traits of the EH patient group. Differences in temperament could suggest the significance of hereditary traits. Further studies are required to determine whether these differences were the causes or consequences of EH.