Temperament Scale Research Articles

Body image dissatisfaction, temperament traits, and self-esteem in patients with multiple minimally invasive cosmetic procedures

Introduction/Objective. The development of safer cosmetic medical procedures has lead to an increase in the number of minimally invasive esthetic procedures. The main aim of the current paper is to examine the connection of the number/location of esthetic procedures with the overall body image dissatisfaction, affective temperament traits, and the index of self-esteem in persons who have undergone several minimally invasive cosmetic procedures for esthetic reasons. The subsidiary aim is to compare the predominance of the abovementioned traits in the sample with the results in the general population. Methods. The study included 228 participants, aged from 21 to 73 years, who had multiple minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, purely for esthetic reasons. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, medical documentation, the Body Image Assessment Scale-Body Dimensions, TEMPS-A temperament scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results. Overall body image dissatisfaction was moderate in our patients (11.56 ? 11.877). With an increase of dissatisfaction, the number of procedures did not grow (r = 0.075, p = 0.263); however, the number of body parts on which the procedures had been performed did. The patients who had their body parts altered most were found to have deeper dissatisfaction with their overall body image (F(2,225) = 4.963, p = 0.008, ?2 = 0.04), and the most prominent temperament was wound to be hyperthymic (F(2,225) = 3.408, p = 0.035, ?2 = 0.03), similar to the Serbian general population. Conclusion. Through establishing potential relations between physical, social, and psychological variables, like body image dissatisfaction, temperament, and self-esteem, we could provide a better insight into a mental state of individuals who frequently undergo minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

Comparison of the Emotion Regulation and Temperament Characteristics Between Depressive Patients With and Without Mixed Features.

"Depressive disorder with mixed features" has been included in the official classification in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Hypothesizing that difficulties in emotion regulation and affective temperament scores are higher in mixed depression comparing to pure depression, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between these phenomena and mixed symptoms. Depressive patients diagnosed by a psychiatrist according to the DSM-5 and had not received any psychiatric treatment for the last 3 months, were included in the study. The Hamilton Rating Scale (HDRS), modified Hypomania Checklist (mHCL), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the TEMPS-A (Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, San Diego Autoquestionaire) were applied to all participants. Of the 63 participants, 40 (63.5%) were women. The mean age was 37.8±12.4 years while mean duration of education was 10.8±4.3 years. The proportion of mixed-depression assessed by the mHCL was 23.8% (n=15). No significant difference was found between the groups concerning gender, age, family history, age at onset of illness, the total number of episodes and temperament scores. Depressive patients with mixed features had significantly higher DERS nonacceptance subscale scores. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the cyclothymic temperament scale scores significantly affected the total mHCL scores. In mixed depression group, higher scores in nonacceptance subscale seems to reflect a tendency to fluctuations in the emotional reactions of a person to the stress. Association between mixed depression, DERS nonacceptance subscale and cyclothymic temperament support the spectrum view that mixed depression is placed between pure depression and bipolarity.

Affective temperaments are associated with the white matter microstructure in healthy participants.

Five affective temperaments are regarded as potential precursors of bipolar disorder. These are depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments. However, the neural substrates underlying these temperaments have not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine whether these temperaments are associated with specific neural substrates related to the brain white matter integrity in healthy participants. We conducted a cross-sectional neuroimaging study of 71 healthy participants (38 males and 33 females) with affective temperaments. All participants screened for past and present psychiatric disorders. The scores of the five affective temperaments were measured by the temperament scale of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-autoquestionnaire. We analyzed the association between the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the brain white matter and these affective temperaments using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The cyclothymic temperament score had a significant positive association with the FA and a significant negative association with the MD in the white matter in the right frontal part of brain. The hyperthymic temperament score was negatively associated with the MD in a wide area of the brain white matter. The anxious temperament score was positively associated with the FA in the bilateral frontal, temporal, and parietal regions of the brain white matter. The depressive and irritable temperament scores were not associated with either the FA or the MD. The present findings suggest that cyclothymic, hyperthymic, and anxious temperaments are associated with brain white matter integrity in healthy participants.

Affective temperament in inflammatory bowel diseases: Another brick in the wall of differentiation.

Psychiatric disorders are significantly common complications among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Affective temperament is a concept of core personality traits, which can decribe the vulnerability to mood disorders, therefore its evaluation might convey useful information about patients' mental status in autoimmune disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate the affective temperament in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) as characteristic features of these diseases, but also in the clinical course and the severity of anxiety and depression.Due to our knowledge this is the first study of this kind. The study enrolled 130 patients with IBD, including 68 with CD and 62 with UC. We used TEMPS-A to evaluate affective temperament and HADS scales to assess the intensity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Harvey Bradshaw scale, Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Mayo Score were used to evaluate clinical severity of the diseases. We observed significantly higher prevalence of depressive, cyclothymic and anxiety temperaments in CD patients compared to the control group. Harvey Bradshaw scale, CDAI and Mayo Self Report showed statistically significant outcomes, including significant positive correlations with depressive, cyclothymic and anxiety subscales of TEMPS-A, and negative correlation with the hyperthymic temperament in CD subjects. Our findings indicate significant differences between CD and UC due to temperament traits, and suggest distinct pathogenesis of mood disorders in IBD.

Stability of child temperament: Multiple moderation by child and mother characteristics.

This 3-wave longitudinal study focuses on stability of child temperament from 3 to 6years and considers child age, gender, birth order, and term status as well as mother age, education, anxiety, and depression as moderators of stability. Mothers of approximately 10,000 children participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children rated child temperament. Stability coefficients for child temperament scales were medium to large, and stability was generally robust across moderators except child gender and birth order and mother age and education, which had small moderating effects on reports of stability of child temperament. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Some is known about the stability of temperament in infancy in small samples, but much less is known about the stability of temperament in early childhood or its moderation. What does this study add? This study uses a large sample (˜10,000) to trace the stability of temperament from 3 to 6years in three waves and considers child age, gender, birth order, and term status as well as mother age, education, anxiety, and depression as moderators of stability.

Temperamental workers: Psychology, business, and the Humm-Wadsworth Temperament Scale in interwar America.

This article traces the history of a popular interwar psychological test, the Humm-Wadsworth Temperament Scale (HWTS), from its development in the early 1930s to its adoption by corporate personnel departments. In popular articles, trade magazines, and academic journals, industrial psychologist Doncaster Humm and personnel manager Guy Wadsworth trumpeted their scale as a scientific measure of temperament that could ensure efficient hiring practices and harmonious labor relations by screening out "problem employees" and screening for temperamentally "normal" workers. This article demonstrates how concerns about the epistemological and scientific credibility of the HWTS were intimately entangled with concerns about its value to business at every step in the test's development. The HWTS sought to measure the emotional and social dimensions of an individual's personality so as to assess their suitability for work. The practice of temperament testing conjured a vision of the subject whose emotional and social disposition was foundational to their own capacity to find employment, and whose capacity to appropriately express, but regulate, their emotions was foundational to corporate order. The history of the HWTS offers an instructive case of how psychological tests embed social hierarchies, political claims, and economic ideals within their very theoretical and methodological foundations. Although the HWTS itself may have faded from use, the test directly inspired creators of subsequent popular personality tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Predictive Effect of Preschool Children’s Temperament Characteristics and Parenting Styles of Mothers on Ego Resiliency Level of Children

The aim of the study is to investigate the predictive effect of the temperament charecteristics of preschool children and their mothers’ parenting styles on ego resiliency level of children. The study was designed in survey method. The sample of the study was selected by random sampling method from central districts of Istanbul, Turkey. The sample consists of 367 children in total and 198 (54%) of these children are girls and 169 (46%) of them are boys. Demographic Information Form, Children’s Ego Resiliency Scale, Short Temperament Scale for Children and Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire were used to collect data. The data was collected during fall semester in 2015-2016 academic year. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the relation between childrens’s ego resiliency level, temperament charecteristics and their parents’ parenting styles. Authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and persistence and reactivity traits of temperament together explained 33% of the variance in ego resiliency and the relation between these variables was found to be as moderate (r = 0.58, p<0,05). The authoritarian parenting style among other explanatory variables is the most powerful variable on ego resiliency of children and these variables are inversely related.

Suicide risk, temperament traits, and sleep quality in patients with refractory epilepsy

ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to access the suicide risk (SR) in patients with refractory epilepsy and its association with temperament and sleep quality. MethodsA total of 50 consecutive patients referred for epilepsy surgery evaluation in the Porto Alegre Epilepsy Surgery Program were included. All patients had a detailed neurologic and psychiatric evaluation, including video-electroencephalogram (VEEG), high-resolution magnetic ressonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychologic assessment. In addition, structured questionnaires were applied: module C of the MINI-plus (International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Brazilian version 5.0.0), Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Scale (AFECTS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ResultsTen patients (20.0%) showed an increased SR. The most frequent location of the epileptic focus was in the temporal lobe (50%; n=25). Final diagnosis on VEEG comprised epilepsy in 74.0% (n=37), psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in 8.0% (n=4), and both in 12%. Thirty patients (60.0%) received surgery indication. Mood disorders were the main psychiatric diagnosis, found in 19 subjects (70.4%), with major depressive disorder (MDD) encountered in 15 patients (55.6%). In the group, SR was more frequent in patients with sleep disorders (p=0.001) and elevated scores of high emotional sensitivity (p=0.003). ConclusionIn this cohort of patients with highly refractory epilepsy, there was a significant association between SR, sleep disorders, and high emotional sensitivity. Careful evaluation of these factors should be performed in these patients to fully access SR.

Relationship between anxious temperament and harm avoidance in medical students and staff.

In order to resolve the equivocal relationship between anxious temperament rated by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and harm avoidance rated by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the present study aimed to investigate whether the anxious temperament scale and the harm avoidance scale are significantly associated with adjustment of relevant factors. Our hypothesis was that anxious temperament might be associated with harm avoidance. From the database of our previous studies, the data of 111 healthy subjects who had both TCI and TEMPS-A scores were extracted for the present study. Two multiple regression analyses were performed: one to predict variance in anxious temperament scores without and with harm avoidance scores, and relevant factors; and another to predict variance in harm avoidance scores without and with anxious temperament scores, and relevant factors. Anxious temperament was significantly and positively associated with depressive temperament, irritable temperament, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression whereas harm avoidance was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament, novelty seeking, persistence, and self-directedness, although both were significantly and positively associated with each other. These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that anxious temperament may have 'depressive proneness' whereas harm avoidance may have 'passive proneness.'

Temperament and character traits in patients with anorectal disorder

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate temperament and character traits in patients with anorectal disorders, considering that temperament and character traits of patients with anorectal disorders will be affected differently from healthy individuals.Methods: We compared 102 patients diagnosed with one of the four most common anorectal disorders (hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissure, anorectal abscess/fistulae, and sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease) who applied to the out-patient clinic and 80 healthy adults without any medical condition. Both groups were administered sociodemographic and descriptive information questionnaire, Temperament and Character Scale (TCS), Beck Depression Scale (BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI) and State and Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI).Results: According to the control group, the patients with anorectal disorders had higher harm avoidance (HA) scores from temperament dimensions and lower self-directedness (SD) scores from character dimensions. The anxiety and depression rates were higher in the group with anorectal disorders.Conclusions: Anorectal disorders are common diseases in the society. Temperament and character traits are closely related to comorbid psychiatric disorders seen in patients with anorectal region disease. At the same time temperament and character traits can affect compliance with medical and surgical interventions for anorectal disease. Our study has provided important data to encourage clinicians to evaluate patients in a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of anorectal disorders that are generally predisposed to chronicity.

Folate deficiency in depressive illness.

Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels have been measured in 101 patients with depressive illness. Subnormal folate levels (2.5 ng./ml. or less) were found in 24 per cent and subnormal vitamin B12 levels (150 pg./ml. or less) in 2.2 per cent of patients. Thirteen patients(14.4 per cent) had low vitamin B12 levels (200 pg./ml. or less). Patients with subnormal folate levels were found to have significantly higher depressive scores, and significantly lower validity scores on the Marke-Nyman Temperament Scale, both on admission and on discharge. Subnormal folate levels could be a consequence of dietary deficiency or could possibly be causal of depression through interference with tyrosine or tryptophan hydroxylation.

Étude des tempéraments affectifs chez des patients épileptiques en Tunisie

PurposeEpilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is associated with an increased risk for psychopathology. Depression is the most common comorbid psychiatric condition in epilepsy, with often atypical clinical manifestations, including symptoms of irritability and anxiety. Temperament refers to biologically based characteristic patterns of emotional reactivity and self-regulation. In early studies, specific temperamental factors have been shown to be risk factors for depression symptoms in adult epilepsy patients. Thus, determining the affective temperament profile of epilepsy patients has important clinical implications especially in identifying those patients most at risk of developing mood disorders. However, very few studies of temperament in epilepsy patients have yet been published. The purpose of this study was to measure depression symptoms and severity, and to assess temperament in adult epilepsy patients, in comparison with control subjects; and to evaluate among the group of epilepsy patients the relationships between affective temperament types, sociodemographic profiles, clinical characteristics, and symptoms of depression. MethodParticipants were recruited from the Neurology Outpatient Department of National Institute of Neurology in Tunis, Tunisia. The study sample comprised 53 epilepsy outpatients (males=33, females=20) over the age of 16years with a confident diagnosis of epilepsy. Matched controls (based on sex and age) included 52 healthy individuals. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A) was used in their Arabic versions to measure depression and temperament respectively. The questionnaires were administered individually. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 18. ResultsFindings indicated that patients with epilepsy had higher scores on depression and temperament scales than healthy controls. With respect to temperaments, hyperthymic temperament had the highest score in patients and controls, followed by anxious, cyclothymic, and depressive temperaments. Irritable temperament had the lowest average score. No significant associations were found between sociodemographic profile, illness characteristics and temperament scores in patients with epilepsy. An extremely strong association was found between depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament scores and the HRSD scale among epilepsy patients. These findings confirm literature data about affective temperament profile in epilepsy patients that put them at greater risk for mood disorders. ConclusionResults underscore the importance of assessment of affective temperaments among epilepsy patients, which could play a key role in defining the sub-group at high risk for developing mood disorders and improving, consequently, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patients suffering from both epilepsy and depression. More extended studies may help validate the concepts of profile temperaments in epilepsy and their relation to depressive vulnerability.

Are we assessing temperament appropriately? The Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity (EASI) Temperament Scale: A systematic psychometric review.

Researchers have dedicated decades to the study of temperament; nevertheless, a single definition has yet to be outlined and several theories with varying numbers of traits continue to coexist (Conture, Kelly, & Walden, 2013). Researchers generally agree that temperament contributes to individual differences, with a common thread among the many definitions of temperament being that traits remain consistent across situations and moderately stable over time (Conture et al., 2013). Given the variability in conceptualizations of temperament, various measures, both self- and parent-report, have been developed; for example, the Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity Scale-III (EASI-III; Buss & Plomin, 1975); Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory (CCTI; Rowe & Plomin, 1977); Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ; Carey & McDevitt, 1978); Dimensions of Temperament Survey (Lerner, Palermo, Spiro, & Nesselroade, 1982); Toddler Temperament Questionnaire (TTQ; Fullard, McDevitt, & Carey, 1984); Children's Behaviour Questionnaire (Rothbart, Ahadi, Hershey, & Fisher, 2001); Infant Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R; Gartstein & Rothbart, 2003). However, in this article we have chosen to focus on one of the most widely used parent-rated measures of temperament: the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity Scale (EASI; Buss, Plomin, & Willerman, 1973) and its iteration, the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Shyness Temperament Survey (EAS; Buss & Plomin, 1984). Although several existing measures of temperament are appropriate for adults (i.e., EASI-III), infants (RITQ and IBQ-R), or young children (TTQ), the EASI and EAS are of the few measures of temperament designed specifically for children (originally ages 1-9 years). The EASI is an often-used measure of child temperament in the area of childhood preoperative anxiety research (e.g., Finley, Stewart, Buffett-Jerrott, Wright, & Millington, 2006; Fortier, Del Rosario, Martin, & Kain, 2010; Kain, Mayes, Caldwell-Andrews, Karas, & McClain, 2006; Kain et al., 1998; Kain, Mayes, Weisman, & Hofstadter, 2000; Wright, Stewart, & Finley, 2013), although the psychometric properties have not always been acceptable (noted specifically by Finley et al., 2006 and Wright, Wright et al., 2013). The measure (and its iteration) continues to be used without modification and has not been reviewed systematically.Development of EASI and EASEASIThe EASI was developed as a parent-rated measure of child temperament; however, there are parallel teacher-report and self- report versions as well (Buss & Plomin, 1984). The EASI is comprised of 20 parent-rated items, with five items on each of the four temperament subscales. Each item is rated on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). After reverse-scoring one item from each scale, scores are summed and divided by five, resulting in four subscales (Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity) with a possible score range of 5 to 25 (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Emotionality varies from an almost stoic lack of reaction to intense or out of control emotional reactions. Examples of high emotionality in children are extreme crying, tantrums, difficulty being soothed, and a low threshold for aversive stimuli (Buss & Plomin, 1975; Goldsmith et al., 1987). Activity refers to total energy output (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Individuals vary from lethargy to almost hypomanic energetic Spelling: behaviour (Goldsmith et al., 1987). The active person is typically busy and in a hurry (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Sociability is defined as the preference for being with others rather than being alone. Sociable individuals seek to share activities, receive attention from others, and engage in social interaction (Goldsmith et al., 1987). Impulsivity involves the tendency to respond quickly rather than inhibiting one's response or planning before acting (Buss & Plomin, 1975). …

Approach temperament across cultures: Validity of the Infant Temperament Scale in MAL-ED

ABSTRACTCharacteristics of temperament have been shown to predict aspects of personality and psychopathology. Approach temperament (i.e., sensitivity, reactivity, and behavioral disposition toward reward stimuli) may be a particularly salient predictor of developmental outcomes (e.g., Nigg, 2006; Shiner & Caspi, 2003). However, there is little research on approach temperament among children from low- and middle-income nations. This study examined the validity of an adapted version of the Infant Temperament Scale across eight international sites with a focus on approach temperament. Our sample included 1,933 infants from eight study sites in low- and middle-income nations: Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal, Peru, Pakistan, South Africa, and Tanzania. The Infant Temperament Scale was translated and administered as a structured interview to caregivers at each site. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure of the scale, and multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) modeling was used to examine invariance of scores across sites. The findings supported the validity of an approach temperament factor. Although the findings did not support the cross-cultural use of the entire Infant Temperament Scale among individuals from low- and middle-income nations in our sample, the supported approach temperament factor is a theoretically important subconstruct. Moreover, the inability to measure other aspects of temperament across cultures may have important implications for researchers interested in the nature of temperament. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Motor skill delays in pre-school children with leukemia one year after treatment: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy as an important risk factor.

CNS-directed therapies for the treatment of leukemia can adversely affect the acquisition of new skills, such as reading/writing and math. Two years after the end of treatments, children show gross and fine motor skill delays that may persist even when patients are considered healed. The goal of the present study was to assess motor skills difficulties in pre-school children with leukemia one year after treatment. Particular attention has been paid to those patients who had undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and to the relationship between motor delays and age bands. Participants were 60 children (median age of 5; inter quartile range: 3.07–5.76), including 31 females and 29 males, 91.7% of them were affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 8.3% by acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Five children had undergone HCST. Parents were interviewed by Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) on children’s motor skills and filled in the Italian Temperament Questionnaire (QUIT). VABS’s total scores were converted into equivalent mental age scores (EMA). A score difference of at least three months between current age and equivalent mental age was considered a developmental delay. Non-parametric analyses were run to understand if HSCT treatment and a specific age band influence children’s motor skills. Significant delays were found in global motor skills (56.7%) as well as in fine and gross motor domains. Mann Whitney U tests showed that children with HSCT were reported to have lower gross motor mean ranks (U = 62; p = 0.004; Mean rank = 15.40) than peers without HSCT (Mean rank = 31.87) and lower mean rank values on motor temperament scale (U = 9; p = 0.003; HSCT Mean rank = 4.75 versus no HSCT Mean rank = 27.81). Kruskal Wallis’ tests identified the high risk treatment showing that HSCT experience negatively impacted the motor skills and temperamental motor activity of pre-school children one year after the diagnosis of leukemia.

Temperament and character in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundIn addition to identified neuropsychiatric characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), changes in personality seem to occur in patients with SLE. Even in absence of an axis I psychiatric diagnosis, personality variations play important role in general wellbeing of these patients. This study investigated personality features in patients with SLE using Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). MethodIn this case-control study personality features of 59 patients with confirmed diagnosis of SLE were evaluated using Persian version of TCI-125 questionnaire. Collected data from patients with SLE were statistically compared with normative data for Iranian population. ResultsAmong four subscales of temperament, reward dependence (RD) and harm-avoidance (HA) were significantly lower than general population. Self-directedness (SD) character dimension was significantly lower in SLE patients compared to normative data. No significant difference was noted in novelty-seeking (NS) and persistence (PS) temperament scales and cooperativeness (CO) and self-transcendence (ST) character scales. ConclusionPersonality changes in SLE is characterized by higher HA and RD along with low SD. These features are associated with higher anxiety, social withdrawal and lower resourcefulness and purposefulness.

ARNTL, CLOCK and PER3 polymorphisms – links with chronotype and affective dimensions

ABSTRACTRecently, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ARNTL, TIM and PER3 genes were found associated with affective temperaments in bipolar disorder patients. This study aimed to test whether a) the same associations appear in a non-clinical sample; b) the SNPs are related to other affective dimensions; c) the SNPs underpin the associations between chronotype and affective temperaments/dimensions. Three hundred thirty-eight university students completed the Temperament Scale of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-questionnaire, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the General Health Questionnaire, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire and the Composite Scale of Morningness. Seven SNPs of the ARNTL, TIM and PER3 genes were genotyped. According to nominal significance, ARNTL rs7107287 was associated with a cyclothymic temperament, depressive and stress symptoms, general mental health and perceived negative impact of seasonality, while TIM rs10876890 was associated with a hyperthymic temperament, and the TIM rs2291738 was associated with chronotype. Different SNPs were related to chronotype and affective temperaments/dimensions, and therefore, they seem to not underpin relationships between chronotype and affective dysfunction, that is, in the present study, eveningness was related to dysthymic, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments, more symptoms of depression, stress, worse mental health and a negative impact of seasonality, while morningness was related to hyperthymic temperament. The SNPs associations need further replication given that they did not achieve Bonferroni criteria of significance accounting for the number of polymorphisms considered and tests conducted.

Diagnostic Concordance Between Categorical and Dimensional Instruments to Assess Personality Disorder in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract. The study examines the relationship between a categorical and a dimensional personality assessment instrument in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A total of 162 CFS patients were included in the study (91.4% women; mean age 47.5 years). All subjects completed the Spanish versions of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Results: 78 (48.1%) of the patients presented a Personality Disorder (PD), the most frequent being Cluster C, specifically Obsessive-compulsive disorder, followed by Avoidant disorder. PDs showed a specific pattern of correlation with temperament scales. All PD clusters correlated positively with Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence, and negatively with Reward Dependence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness. In a logistic regression analysis, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness predicted PD presence. The findings are consistent with previous studies in non-CFS samples and suggest that the combination of the Temperament and Character dimensions (low Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and high Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence) correlates with PD severity, and that Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness are associated with PD presence in CFS patients. The integration of these two perspectives expands the current comprehension of personality pathology in CFS patients.

ABCA1 Polymorphism, a Genetic Risk Factor of Harm Avoidance

Abstract. Even though cholesterol homeostasis and self-harm behaviors have shown to be associated, gene polymorphisms of the cholesterol system have not been studied yet in the context of self-harm related personality traits. Here we present an association study between six ABCA1 polymorphisms and temperament scales measured by Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory on 253 young adults. An association between ABCA1 rs4149264 and harm avoidance has been observed. This association remained significant after Bonferroni correction. Haplotype analysis confirmed an independent association between rs4149264 and harm avoidance. ABCA1, a cholesterol homeostasis gene, is a candidate gene for harm related personality traits.

Depressive symptoms and the role of affective temperament in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A comparison with bipolar disorder

ObjectivesTo investigate the characteristics of depressive symptoms and the influence of affective temperament in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in comparison with bipolar disorder (BD) patients and healthy controls (HCs). MethodSixty patients with ADHD, 50 patients with BD, and 30 HCs were assessed with instruments for measuring depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II), and affective temperaments (Temperament Scale of Memphis, Pisa and San Diego, self-administered version; TEMPS-A). In addition, participants were evaluated with scales for measuring ADHD symptoms, impulsiveness, anxiety, executive dysfunction, and quality of life. ResultsADHD patients showed levels of depressive symptoms similar to BD patients and higher than HCs. Only neurovegetative symptoms of depression differentiated ADHD and BD groups (BD > ADHD). Depressive symptoms in ADHD patients correlated positively with core ADHD, impulsivity, anxiety, and dysexecutive symptoms and negatively with quality of life. Thirty-eight percent of patients with ADHD scored above the cutoff for at least one affective temperament. Cyclothymic was the more common affective temperament (25%). ADHD patients with affective temperamental traits were more depressed and impulsive than patients without those traits and showed a symptomatic profile analogous to BD patients. LimitationsThe small size of resultant samples when ADHD group was stratified by the presence of affective temperament. In addition, results may not generalize to less severe ADHD patients from the community. ConclusionsConcomitant depressive symptoms constitute a common occurrence in adults with ADHD that carries significant psychopathological and functional consequences. The concept of affective temperaments may be an interesting link for explaining depressive symptomatology and emotional impulsivity in a subgroup of patients with ADHD, beyond the classic idea of comorbidity.