Temperament Profiles Research Articles

Characterizing Anxious Children with an Obsessive Difficult Temperament

This exploratory study sought to characterize anxious children displaying an Obsessive Difficult Temperament (ODT), and examined features that may differentiate them from anxiety disordered, non ODT children. Participants comprised 67 children, aged 4 to 7 years, consecutively referred to an anxiety disorders clinic at an urban children's hospital. Retrospective categorization of the participants' temperament profile was undertaken, with 21 children appearing to display ODT. Groups were compared on the bases of child functioning (parent and clinician rated), the presence of comorbid disorders (based on structured interview), and parental stress and symptomatology. Participants with ODT were found to display a specific profile of temperament traits. Compared to non ODT participants, they showed a significantly poorer social functioning, more comorbid externalizing disorders, elevated levels of maternal stress, and increased maternal psychiatric symptoms. To conclude, anxious children expressing ODT present with significant impairments in functioning and require further investigation. Associated parental stress and impaired maternal psychosocial functioning are evident.

P01-135 Psychophatology differences between pregnant women who conceived naturally and through assisted reproduction

Objective:In the past few decades, new and more efficient techniques to help solve fertility problems have become widely available throughout the developed world. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences on psychopathology factors between women who had conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and women who had conceived naturally.Methods:The sample was composed of 41 pregnant women of whom 28 women had conceived through assisted reproductive technology (IVF) and 13 had conceived naturally. Women were evaluated by week 20 of pregnancy at the Infanta Cristina University Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, in Badajoz. Women consented to complete the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).Results:IVF women were characterized by higher scores on Anxiety Scale (t = 3.90; p = 0.045) and lower scores on Hostility Scale (t = 4.35; p = 0.041) than women who had conceived naturally. There were no differences in the others scales.Conclusions:IVF women appear to present a temperamental profile characterized by a tendency to anxiety. Further research is needed to firstly, confirm these preliminary findings, and secondly, to longitudinally explore its impact on pregnancy outcome and mother-infant attachment.

Association between the alpha-2C-adrenergic receptor gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a Korean sample

Findings from preclinical and clinical research support the involvement of central noradrenergic dysregulation in the etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have suggested that the alpha-2C-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRA2C) is associated with ADHD. The aims of this study were to examine the association between the ADRA2C (GT)n repeat polymorphism (STR marker adra2c1) and ADHD in a Korean sample. In this case-control and family-based association study, we assessed 184 ADHD probands, 150 normal controls, and 98 trios. There were no significant differences in the allele frequencies of the ADRA2C polymorphism between the ADHD and control groups ( p > 0.05). The overall allele-wise transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) analysis showed statistical significance ( χ 2 = 19.07, p = 0.025). We found a trend for preferential transmission of the 183-bp allele ( χ 2 = 3.72, p = 0.054), and a significantly lower-than-expected rate of transmission of the 187-bp allele ( χ 2 = 6.26, p = 0.012). With regard to the temperament profiles of the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), the ADHD subjects with the 183/183 genotype at the ADRA2C polymorphism showed a trend toward a lower score in the Novelty Seeking ( p = 0.020) profile than did those with the other genotypes. Our findings provide important evidence that the ADRA2C polymorphism is involved in the etiology of ADHD in Korean subjects. In addition, our results provide evidence that the temperament of Novelty Seeking and ADHD might share molecular genetic characteristics related to the noradrenergic system.

Temperament and its Relationship to Autistic Symptoms in a High-Risk Infant Sib Cohort

The present study prospectively investigated early temperamental profiles and their associations with autistic symptoms in high-risk infants (N = 138) with an older sibling with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and low-risk infants (N = 73) with no family history of ASD. Children who were diagnosed with ASD at 36 months were distinguished from non-ASD sibs and controls by a temperament profile marked by lower positive affect, higher negative affect and difficulty controlling attention and behavior, which we labeled Effortful Emotion Regulation. This profile also distinguished the non-ASD sib group from the control group. Children with ASD were distinguished from both of the other two groups by a temperament profile of low Behavioral Approach (lower sensitivity to "social" reward cues). Low levels of Behavioral Approach were associated with a higher number of ASD symptoms, even after taking into account IQ, sex and group membership. Finally, a cluster analysis revealed two ASD subgroups distinguished by number of ASD symptoms, IQ, age of diagnosis and scores on the Behavioral Approach profile. These findings suggest that temperament may be a useful framework for understanding the emergence of ASD early in life.

Temperament and executive dysfunctions in schizophrenia

Recent studies suggest that both executive dysfunction and personality traits combine with symptoms to affect the social outcome of persons with schizophrenia. This study was designed to investigate how personality traits influence executive function in schizophrenia. Forty-four patients with schizophrenia and twenty-two healthy subjects were assessed for personality using the temperament and character inventory. Different aspects of executive function were assessed using the Auditory Digit Span (forward and backward) and the Wickens' test for proactive interference and release. The results showed that the influences of the various temperament dimensions on specific aspects of executive functions differ between patients and healthy subjects. On some dimensions, schizophrenia appears to reduce the cognitive differences related to temperament. On other dimensions, schizophrenia tends to reverse the cognitive differences related to temperament observed in healthy people. These results suggest that the temperamental profile of schizophrenia patients may well be of important prognostic value in the planning of cognitive enhancement therapy.

Temperament and character inventory (TCI) personality profile of alcohol misuse patients with and without a co-occurring mood or anxiety disorder

Materials and methods We examined two statistically matched groups (20 patients in each) of AUD patients (ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence). The first group consisted of patients with a lifetime diagnosis of mood/and or anxiety disorder and the second group included AUD patients without comorbid disorders. Lifetime psychiatric history was assessed “Composite International Diagnostic Interview” ver. 2.1 /lifetime/.

Latent Profiles of Temperament and Their Relations to Psychopathology and Wellness

To test for empirically defined temperament phenotypes and to investigate their associations with psychopathology and wellness. The sample included 447 children (259 boys, 188 girls; mean age 11.0 years) recruited for a family study in the northeastern United States. Temperament was measured with the Juvenile Temperament and Character Inventory, and indicators of wellness and psychopathology were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist from both parents and the Teacher Report Form. Latent profiles analysis was performed with the resulting class membership serving as the dependent variables for multinomial regression analyses. Latent profiles analysis identified three classes as the best fitting solution consisting of a moderate class that had average levels of all four traits, a steady class that had low novelty seeking and high persistence and a disengaged class that had higher novelty seeking and harm avoidance but lower reward dependence and persistence. Regressions demonstrated strong links between the steady class, higher functioning, and lower levels of psychopathology, whereas the disengaged class showed the opposite associations. These findings held across informants of psychopathology and wellness. Profile analyses of temperament may be illuminative in identifying children with similar constellations of traits across many dimensions. Membership in these groups appears to be strongly related to both positive and negative outcomes.

Temperament profiles from infancy to middle childhood: Development and associations with behavior problems.

The authors applied I-States as Objects Analysis (ISOA), a recently proposed person-oriented analytic approach, to the study of temperament development in 921 Norwegian children from a population-based sample. A 5-profile classification based on cluster analysis of standardized mother reports of activity, sociability, emotionality, and shyness at ages 18 months, 30 months, 4-5 years, and 8-9 years was interpretable and highly replicable. The prevalence of temperament profiles changed markedly with age, and individual stability in temperament profiles was significant. Specific typical and atypical developmental sequences of profiles were identified. Selective patterns of concurrent group differences in externalizing and internalizing problems by temperament profiles were remarkably similar across ages. The findings to some degree support the notion that individual temperament-variable values take on meaning in relation to the whole individual configuration and indicate some lawfulness in temperament changes over time. Future person-oriented studies of temperament development should replicate the current results using multiple data sources, rigorous tests of gender differences, and latent group modeling.

Temperament profiles in personality disorders among a young adult population

The objective of this study was to describe the temperament dimension profiles assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) among young adults with the DSM-III-R personality disorder (PD). Our hypothesis was that PD clusters and separate PDs can be distinguished from one another by their specific temperament profiles. As a part of the 31-year follow-up survey of the prospective Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, the cohort members living in the city of Oulu at the age of 31 years (n=1609) were invited to participate in a two-phase field study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R for PDs (SCID–II) was used as diagnostic instrument. The final study sample consisted of the 1311 subjects who had completed the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 questionnaire for screening and had given a written informed consent. Of the 321 SCID interviewed subjects, 74 met the criteria for at least one PD and had completed the TCI. The mean TCI scores of subjects with PD and control subjects without PD (n=910) were compared. Low Novelty Seeking, high Harm Avoidance and low Reward Dependence characterized cluster A and C PDs. Subjects with a cluster B PD did not differ from controls, except for Novelty Seeking, which was high. The temperament dimensions could not distinguish different PDs very well, with the only exception of persons with obsessive–compulsive PD. PD clusters were associated with different profiles of temperament, lending some support for Cloninger's typology.

Associations between Early Childhood Temperament Clusters and Later Psychosocial Adjustment

The study adopted a person-centered approach to examine whether clusters of children could be identified on the basis of temperament profiles assessed on four occasions from infancy to early childhood, and if so whether differing temperament clusters were associated with subsequent differences in behavior problems, social skills, and school adjustment in middle and late childhood. Parent, teacher, and self-report data were obtained from a large community-based cohort sample of Australian children, followed prospectively from infancy to late childhood. Four temperament clusters were identified. Children in the clusters labeled as reactive/inhibited and poor attention regulation tended to have higher levels of later behavior problems than children in clusters labeled nonreactive/outgoing and high attention regulation. Results suggested that a person-oriented clustering approach can identify children on the basis of early temperament who are at greater risk for behavioral, academic, and social difficulties four to eight years later.

Temperamental reactivity and negative emotionality in uncooperative children referred to specialized paediatric dentistry compared to children in ordinary dental care

Current treatment of children with dental behaviour management problems (DBMP) is based on the presupposition that their difficulties are caused by dental fear, but is this always the case? The aim of this study was to study temperamental reactivity, negative emotionality, and other personal characteristics in relation to DBMP in 8- to 12-year-old children. Forty-six children referred because of DBMP (study group) and 110 children in ordinary dental care (reference group) participated. The EASI tempramental survey assessed temperamental reactivity and negative emotionality, the Child Behaviour Questionnaire internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems, and the Children's Fear Survey Schedule general and dental fears. Cluster analyses and tree-based modelling were used for data analysis. Among the five clusters identified, one could be characterized as 'balanced temperament'. Thirty-five per cent of the reference group compared to only 7% of the study group belonged to this cluster. Negative emotionality was the most important sorting variable. Children referred because of DBMP differed from children in ordinary dental care, not only in dental fear level, but also in personal characteristics. Few of the referred children were characterized by a balanced temperament profile. It is important to consider the dual impact of emotion dysregulation and emotional reactivity in the development of DBMP.

P.1.f.003 Are schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder seperate disease entities? A study with neurocognitive performance

Both the melancholic type of personality (TM) and the concept of temperament offer promising insights for the phenotypic characterization of mood-spectrum vulnerability. This research challenges the theoretical hiatus between the two psychopathological paradigms – the phenomenological and the neo-Kraepelinian – by means of an empirically-based approach.Temperamental features were assessed through the Semi-structured Affective Temperament Interview (TEMPS-I) in an outpatient population of 116 clinically stable, euthymic subjects who suffered from a DSM IV major depressive disorder, previously enrolled for a study on the characteristics of major/unipolar depressive episode. The sample was subsequently evaluated and dichotomized according to the Criteria for Typus Melancholicus (CTM).The TM subjects exhibited statistically significant differences in the temperamental profile as compared to non-TMs (NTM). A specific association between TM and hyperthymic temperament (HT) was confirmed by binary logistic regression analysis, suggesting that the phenomenological distinction TM vs. NTM is supported by different predisposing Kraepelinian “fundamental states”.Although it is uncertain whether the findings would generalize outside the Italian culture, they nonetheless delineate a strong aggregation between TM and hyperthymic temperament, indicating that (1) an integrative neo-Kraepelinian/phenomenological cooperative model is warranted to tap the complexity of the phenotypic diathesis for mood-disorders, and (2) the hyperthymic–melancholic type of personality rests on the margins of the bipolar spectrum.The main limitation of this study is that it enrolled a selected outpatient volunteer sample. A large scale study in general population is needed to confirm the hypothesis of a strong link between TM and HT and to shed light on the causes and meanings of this association.

Temperament profiles in women with somatization disorder

Temperament profiles in women with somatization disorder

Depression and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between depression and Internet addiction among adolescents. Sampling and Method: A total of 452 Korean adolescents were studied. First, they were evaluated for their severity of Internet addiction with consideration of their behavioral characteristics and their primary purpose for computer use. Second, we investigated correlations between Internet addiction and depression, alcohol dependence and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Third, the relationship between Internet addiction and biogenetic temperament as assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory was evaluated. Results: Internet addiction was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Regarding biogenetic temperament and character patterns, high harm avoidance, low self-directedness, low cooperativeness and high self-transcendence were correlated with Internet addiction. In multivariate analysis, among clinical symptoms depression was most closely related to Internet addiction, even after controlling for differences in biogenetic temperament. Conclusions: This study reveals a significant association between Internet addiction and depressive symptoms in adolescents. This association is supported by temperament profiles of the Internet addiction group. The data suggest the necessity of the evaluation of the potential underlying depression in the treatment of Internet-addicted adolescents.

Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and the phenotypic heterogeneity of adult ADHD

The present study investigates possible associations between the 5-HTT control region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) with adult ADHD, including subtypes, severity, temperament profile and comorbidities. The polymorphic site was genotyped in 312 adult patients with ADHD and 236 controls, all of them Brazilians of European descent. The interviews followed the DSM-IV criteria, using the K-SADS-E for ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, SCID-I and MINI for comorbidities and the TCI for temperament dimensions. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was not associated with ADHD. Carriers of the S allele presented slightly higher inattention and novelty seeking scores, and a higher frequency of drug dependence. These differences do not persist after correction for multiple comparisons. These results suggest that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism does not have a direct role in the predisposition to adult ADHD. There is suggestive evidence for a small effect in some behavioral phenotypes related to ADHD.

Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire data on alcoholic violent offenders: specific connections to severe impulsive cluster B personality disorders and violent criminality

BackgroundThe validity of traditional categorical personality disorder diagnoses is currently re-evaluated from a continuous perspective, and the evolving DSM-V classification may describe personality disorders dimensionally. The utility of dimensional personality assessment, however, is unclear in violent offenders with severe personality pathology.MethodsThe temperament structure of 114 alcoholic violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) was compared to 84 offenders without ASPD, and 170 healthy controls. Inclusion occurred during a court-ordered mental examination preceded by homicide, assault, battery, rape or arson. Participants underwent assessment of temperament with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and were diagnosed with DSM-III-R criteria.ResultsThe typical temperament profile in violent offender having ASPD comprised high novelty seeking, high harm avoidance, and low reward dependence. A 21% minority scored low in trait harm avoidance. Results, including the polarized harm avoidance dimension, are in accordance with Cloninger's hypothesis of dimensional description of ASPD. The low harm avoidance offenders committed less impulsive violence than high harm avoidance offenders. High harm avoidance was associated with comorbid antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.ConclusionResults indicate that the DSM based ASPD diagnosis in alcoholic violent offenders associates with impulsiveness and high novelty seeking but comprises two different types of ASPD associated with distinct second-order traits that possibly explain differences in type of violent criminality. Low harm avoidance offenders have many traits in common with high scorers on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Results link high harm avoidance with broad personality pathology and argue for the usefulness of self-report questionnaires in clinical praxis.

Temperament and character profile as risk factor of depression and anxiety syndromes induced by interferon and ribavirin treatment in chronic hepatitis c patients

Background:The aim of this study was to examine the temperament and character profile as risk factors of interferon and ribavirin (IFN+RBV) induced psychopathology in chronic hepatitis C patients. According to the Cloninger's biosocial model (TCI), the temperament dimension harm avoidance (HA) is suggested to indicate central serotonergic turnover, which is further correlated with depressive/anxiety states.Methods:198 patients with chronic hepatitis C in treatment with IFN+RBV were evaluated at baseline and 4, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. All subjects were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Hospital Scale of Anxiety and Depression (HADS) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-revised (TCI-R) questionnaire (at basal level).Results:At baseline, 32 patients had a psychiatric syndrome (16.1%). During the first six months of IFN+RBV treatment the incidence of depression/anxiety syndromes was 37.9% (n=63/166). The personality factors associated (p<0.001, corrected) were: HA dimension; fatigability subscale (HA4), anticipatory worry subscale (HA1); self-directedness dimension (SD); congruent subscale (SD5); and; social acceptance subscale (C1). By logistic regression analysis the independent variables that most predict the induced cases (PHQ+) (dependent variable) were: previous history of mood disorder (p<0.001; Exp(b)=5.655), and both HA4 (p<0.001; Exp(b)=1,104) and C1 (p<0.001; Exp(b)=0.845) subscales.Conclusion:The assessment of personality traits (HA, C) and previous history of psychiatric disorders before start the IFN+RBV treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients might identify the patients at risk of induced depression/anxiety disorders during the treatment.This study has been done in part with grants: Instituto-Carlos III (G03/02) (Red-Hepatologia) and (GO3/184) (Red-Genotipacion/Psiquiatria Genetica).

Affective temperament-types and suicidal behaviour

Background:As the different affective temperament-types (depressive, hyperthymic, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious) play a significant role in the development and symptom-formation of bipolar and unipolar major mood episodes, the aim of this study was to examine these affective temperaments in persons making suicide attempts.Method:Using the Hungarian version of the full-scale 110-item version of the TEMPS-A questionnaire. we compared the affective temperament profiles of 150 nonviolent (106 female and 44 male) suicide attempters (121 of them have had current major depressive episode) and 717 normal controls (438 females and 279 males).Results:Compared to controls, both female and male suicide attempters scored significantly higher in four of the five temperaments, containing mWre or less depressive component (depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious). On the other hand, however, no significant difference between suicide attempters and controls was found for the hyperthymic temperament scores. Significantly higher rate of suicide attempters (135/150=90.0%) than controls (138/717=19.2%) have had some kind of dominant (mean score + 2 SD or above) affective temperament (p=0.0001).Conclusion:The findings support the strong relationship between depression and suicidal behaviour even on temperamental level, suggesting that hyperthymic temperament has no predisposing role for suicidal behaviour at least in case of nonviolent attempters. As current depression and dysregulated central serotonergic function are well-known suicide risk factors, these findings are also in good agreement with recent results on the significant relationship between the s allele of the serotonin transporter gene and depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments, but not with hyperthymic temperament.

Exploring the margins of the bipolar spectrum: Temperamental features of the typus melancholicus

BackgroundBoth the melancholic type of personality (TM) and the concept of temperament offer promising insights for the phenotypic characterization of mood-spectrum vulnerability. This research challenges the theoretical hiatus between the two psychopathological paradigms – the phenomenological and the neo-Kraepelinian – by means of an empirically-based approach. MethodTemperamental features were assessed through the Semi-structured Affective Temperament Interview (TEMPS-I) in an outpatient population of 116 clinically stable, euthymic subjects who suffered from a DSM IV major depressive disorder, previously enrolled for a study on the characteristics of major/unipolar depressive episode. The sample was subsequently evaluated and dichotomized according to the Criteria for Typus Melancholicus (CTM). ResultsThe TM subjects exhibited statistically significant differences in the temperamental profile as compared to non-TMs (NTM). A specific association between TM and hyperthymic temperament (HT) was confirmed by binary logistic regression analysis, suggesting that the phenomenological distinction TM vs. NTM is supported by different predisposing Kraepelinian “fundamental states”. Limitation and conclusionsAlthough it is uncertain whether the findings would generalize outside the Italian culture, they nonetheless delineate a strong aggregation between TM and hyperthymic temperament, indicating that (1) an integrative neo-Kraepelinian/phenomenological cooperative model is warranted to tap the complexity of the phenotypic diathesis for mood-disorders, and (2) the hyperthymic–melancholic type of personality rests on the margins of the bipolar spectrum.The main limitation of this study is that it enrolled a selected outpatient volunteer sample. A large scale study in general population is needed to confirm the hypothesis of a strong link between TM and HT and to shed light on the causes and meanings of this association.

Relationship between personality disorder symptoms and temperament in the young male general population of South Korea

The aim of the present study was to identify the characteristics of temperament and character in personality disorder symptoms in the young male general population. A total of 585 male subjects from the same community were included in the study (mean age, 19.06 +/- 0.26 years). There was no difference in socioeconomic and educational background. Subjects completed the Personality Disorder Questionnaire-IV+ (PDQ-IV+) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). There were unique correlations between each personality disorder symptom and four temperament profiles. When classification was done through three cluster symptoms by DSM-IV, cluster A symptoms were most strongly associated with low reward dependence (r = -0.46), cluster B with high novelty seeking (r = 0.33), and cluster C with high harm avoidance (r = 0.47). The character dimension, self-directedness was the most powerful predictor of the presence of any personality disorders. In homogenous male general population, unique combinations were found between temperament and each personality disorders. Although the subjects were relatively young and therefore their characters had not yet fully matured, character played an important role in the presence of personality disorder. Temperament can be used to differentiate the personality symptoms and characters used to predict the presence of personality disorder.