Introduction:
The aim of the study was to identify selected personality determinants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Material and methods:
Pilot clinical studies were performed in 108 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The majority of the study sample (69%) was women. The study was conducted from March to April 2015 in the rheumatology departments of Silesian hospitals. The selected personality traits were measured using two psychometric tools: the A-Framingham Scale in Juczyński's Polish adaptation and the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory adapted to Polish conditions by Zawadzki et al. The study also used sociodemographic metrics.

Results:
The study results showed an increased intensification of the type A behaviour pattern in the study group. A positive relationship was observed between the A pattern and neuroticism. Furthermore, statistically significant positive correlations were reported between extraversion and openness to experience, and between conscientiousness and agreeableness. Moreover, statistically significant negative relationships were found between neuroticism and extraversion and agreeableness. There was a significant correlation between sociodemographic variables such as gender, marital status, education, age, and personality traits like extraversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism, agreeableness and openness to experience.

Conclusions:
The personality factor is important in patients with RA. Continuing clinical trials with regard to personality determinants in patients with RA and learning about these conditions may contribute to deeper understanding of the etiopathogenesis, the course of the disease and more effective treatment of this condition.