Synthesising 30 years of clinical experience and scientific insight on affective temperaments in psychiatric disorders: State of the art.

The concept of affective temperament has been extensively discussed throughout the history of psychopathology and represents a cornerstone in the study of mood disorders. This review aims to trace the evolution of the concept of affective temperaments (ATs) from Kraepelin's seminal work to the present day. In the 1980s, Akiskal redefined Kraepelin's concept of affective temperaments (ATs) by integrating the five recognized ATs into the broader framework of the soft bipolar spectrum. This conceptualization viewed ATs as non-pathological predispositions underlying psychiatric disorders, particularly mood disorders. Epidemiological and clinical studies have validated the existence of the five ATs. Furthermore, evidence suggests that ATs may serve as precursors to various psychiatric disorders and influence clinical dimensions such as disease course, psychopathology, and treatment adherence. Additionally, ATs appear to play a significant role in moderating phenomena such as suicide risk and stress coping. Incorporating an evaluation of temperamental bases of disorders into the multidimensional psychiatric diagnostic process could enhance treatment optimization and prognosis estimation.

Predominant affective temperaments in depressive patients with severe social withdrawal.

BACKGROUND: Hikikomori (HK) is characterized by self-isolation and social refusal, being more likely also associated with affective disorders, including depression. This case-control study primarily aimed at identifying (if any) predominant affective temperaments are associated with HK in depressed versus not-depressed individuals. Secondary objectives comprise assessing which other psychopathological dimensions (e.g., boredom, anxiety) are associated with the HK specifier in depressed individuals. METHODS: From the larger SWATCH study, 687 Italian young people were screened for depression, as measured by 9 items-Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and HK-like social withdrawal, through the Hikikomori Questionnaire-25 (HQ-25). All subjects were administered a brief-Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-M), the 7 items-Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS). RESULTS: Males reported significantly higher scores at HQ-25 total score than females (p = 0.026). In the total sample, HK social withdrawal is positively predicted by MSBS low arousal, disengagement, depressive levels, depressive and irritable affective temperaments, while negatively by anxiety (F(6, 680) = 82.336, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.421). By selecting only depressed sample, HQ-25 is positively predicted by MSBS total score, low arousal and depressive affective temperament, while negatively by MSBS high arousal (F(4, 383) = 48.544, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.336). The logistic regression model found that the likelihood of developing depression with the HK specifier is significantly predicted by depressive and cyclothymic affective temperaments. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings could help in clinically characterizing the relationship between specific affective temperamental profiles among individuals with depression with/without HK specifier, in order to provide a more tailored and personalized therapeutic approach. Our Italian study should be extensively replicated in larger, longitudinal and multicentric pan-European studies, by specifically assessing the impact of these findings on depression clinical course, prognosis and treatment outcomes.

Abordagem da homeopatia constitucional na gravidez / Constitutional homeopathy approach during pregnancy

Dentre as várias vertentes de pesquisa e prática homeopática pós-hahnemanniana, a Homeopatia Constitucional leva em consideração os aspectos morfofisiológicos: a biotipologia, o temperamento, as diáteses, não como noções absolutas, mas inseridas no seu devido lugar dentro da Doutrina e Técnicas de aplicação da Homeopatia. O conceito básico persiste sendo a semelhança precisa entre os sinais de um remédio e os mesmos sinais encontrados num paciente. A gravidez é um estado fisiológico que resulta na formação de um ser do qual podemos conhecer os progenitores. É uma oportunidade de abordar este ser diante das imperfeições de terreno que lhes podem ser transmitidas. A homeopatia é a única terapêutica prática, pois é inofensiva à criança e conduz um tratamento "eugênico", permitindo que a criança seja bem constituída.

Among the various aspects of post-Hahnemannian homeopathic research and practice, Constitutional Homeopathy considers morphophysiological aspects: biotypology, temperament and diatheses, not as absolute notions, but inserted in their due place within the Doctrine and Application Techniques of Homeopathy. The basic concept remains the precise similarity between the signs of a medicine and the same signs found in a patient. Pregnancy is a physiological state that results in the formation of a being whose parents we can know. It is an opportunity to approach this being in the face of the imperfections of the terrain that can be transmitted to them. Homeopathy is the only practical therapy, as it is harmless to the child and provides a "eugenic" treatment, allowing the child to be well constituted.

Depressive Symptoms during Pregnancy: Prevalence and Correlates with Affective Temperaments and Psychosocial Factors.

Pregnancy is a unique experience in women's life, requiring a great ability of adaptation and self-reorganization; vulnerable women may be at increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and to evaluate the role of affective temperament traits and psychosocial risk factors in predicting them. We recruited 193 pregnant women, collected data regarding sociodemographic, family and personal clinical variables, social support and stressful life events and administered the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). In our sample, prevalence of depressive symptomatology was 41.45% and prevalence of depression was 9.85% (6.75% mild and 3.10% moderate depression). We have chosen a cutoff >4 on PHQ-9 to identify mild depressive symptoms which may predict subsequent depression. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in the following factors: gestational age, occupation, partner, medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, family psychiatric history, stressful life events, and TEMPS-A mean scores. In our sample mean scores on all affective temperaments but the hyperthymic, were significantly lower in the control group. Only depressive and hyperthymic temperaments were found to be, respectively, risk and protective factors for depressive symptomatology. The current study confirms the high prevalence and complex aetiology of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and suggests that affective temperament assessment seems to be a useful adjunctive instrument to predict depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and postpartum.

The Impact of Affective Temperaments on Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: Results from an Observational Multicentric Study on Patients with Mood Disorders.

Suicide ideation and behaviors are major health issues in the field of mental health. Several psychological and psychosocial factors have been taken into account as possible predictors of suicidality. Only recently affective temperaments have been considered as possible factors linked to suicide. This study aims to investigate the relationship between affective temperaments and suicidality, including the lifetime onset of suicide ideation, lifetime presence of suicide attempts and the total number of lifetime suicide attempts. This is a naturalistic multicentric observational study, involving outpatient units of seven University sites in Italy. Patients were administered with the short version of TEMPS-M and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. A total of 653 participants were recruited, with a diagnosis of bipolar (55.7%), unipolar (35.8%) and cyclothymic disorder (8.4%). Regression models showed that the presence of lifetime suicide behaviors was increased in patients presenting trait related impulsivity (p < 0.0001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.01), higher number of hospitalizations (p < 0.0001), cyclothymic and irritable affective temperaments (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conversely, the presence of hyperthymic affective disposition reduced the likelihood of having suicidal behaviors (p < 0.01). Lifetime suicidal ideation was associated with trait-related impulsivity (p < 0.001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.001) and of hospitalizations (p < 0.001). Depressive temperaments increased the likelihood of presenting suicidal ideation (p < 0.05), along with irritable temperaments (p < 0.01), contrary to hyperthymic affective (p < 0.05). Results of the present study confirm that affective disposition has a significant impact on the onset of suicidal ideation and behaviors, and that affective dispositions should be assessed in clinical settings to identify people at risk of suicide. Moreover, a wider clinical evaluation, including different clinical psychopathological dimensions, should be taken into consideration to develop effective preventive interventions.

Job satisfaction in the health professions: The role of affective temperaments.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction, as a multidimensional psychological response to work experience, includes both cognitive and affective components which influence individuals' appraisals and state of minds. In recent years, researchers have begun to explore the psychological processes that might underlie the dispositional causes of job satisfaction. Affective temperaments can influence the experience of emotionally significant events at work and this, in turn, may influence job satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible associations between affective temperamental features and job satisfaction in the health professions. METHODS: The sample consisted of 294 subjects selected among health professionals. Data were collected by an online survey including the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire and the short form of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-A) questionnaire. RESULTS: Hyperthymic, depressive, irritable and anxious temperaments predicted the risk of experiencing job dissatisfaction in healthcare professionals. No associations between cyclothymic temperament and job satisfaction were found. CONCLUSION: The identification of affective temperamental assets and liabilities is potentially useful in the development of supportive and psycho-educational strategies, aimed at preventing work-related stress and promoting mental health in workplaces, also reducing the risk of job dissatisfaction.

The mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between affective temperament and craving: Cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of bipolar and alcohol use disorder patients.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur and their interplay is influenced by several factors. Alexithymia is connected to BD and AUD; affective temperaments serve as risk factors for both; craving contributes to the development and maintenance of AUD. The present study tested whether alexithymia play a mediating role in the relationship between affective temperaments and craving in alcoholic bipolar patients. METHODS: 151 alcoholic bipolar patients (38 % females, mean age: 45.69 ± 9.04 years) were enrolled. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego scale (TEMPS-A), and the Typology Craving Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered. Correlations among TAS-20, TEMPS-A, CTQ were conducted. Regression analyses were applied to verify the mediating hypothesis. RESULTS: Difficulty in identifying feelings mediated the association between anxious temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.42, BCaCI: 0.22-0.69), cyclothymic temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.55, BCaCI: 0.30-0.87), irritable temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.45, BCaCI: 0.19-0.80). TAS-20 difficulty in communicating feelings to others mediated the association between anxious temperament and craving (Indirect effect: 0.20, BCaCI: 0.06-0.41). LIMITATIONS: The sample size did not allow subgroup analyses. Data were collected cross-sectionally and in a single center. We did not investigate whether BD or AUD occurred first, although it might influence the mediation role of alexithymia. CONCLUSION: Among alcoholic bipolar patients, assessing and targeting alexithymia may be useful to modulate craving and, in turn improve, the general mental status of patients.

Chronotype is associated with affective temperaments, clinical severity and worse treatment outcomes in bipolar disorders: results from a two-center, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at investigating the clinical correlates of evening chronotype in a population of subjects suffering from bipolar disorders (BD). METHODS: We assessed chronotype using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. We administered the brief Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Alda Scale to evaluate affective temperaments, impulsiveness, and response to mood stabilisers. We performed bivariate analyses and ran a logistic regression model to analyse clinical variables associated with evening chronotype. RESULTS: In our sample (n = 178), subjects with an evening chronotype (n = 56, 31.5%) more often suffered from BD type I and reported higher prevalence of seasonality, antidepressant-induced mood switches, psychotic, aggressive, mixed, and anxiety features, and substance use disorders. The number of lifetime suicide attempts and mood episodes was higher in this subgroup. Depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious temperament scores were higher among evening-chronotype subjects, who also displayed greater levels of impulsiveness and worse treatment response. At the logistic regression, evening chronotype was associated with depressive and irritable temperaments. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with evening chronotype display higher clinical severity and worse BD course. Clinicians should evaluate the presence of evening chronotype in BD subjects, especially in those with irritable or depressive temperament.Key pointsEvening chronotype is a frequent clinical feature in subjects suffering from bipolar disorders (BD);Affective temperaments, particularly depressive and irritable, are associated with evening chronotype in BD;Evening chronotype underpins higher severity of the clinical picture in BD, as well as a worse response to mood stabiliser treatment;Circadian preferences should be systematically assessed in subjects suffering from BD, with particular attention to evening preference.

Affective temperaments mediate aggressive dimensions in bipolar disorders: A cluster analysis from a large, cross-sectional, international study.

BACKGROUND: Affective temperaments show potential for aggressive behavior (AB) preventive strategies in bipolar disorder (BD). We aim to define intra-diagnostic subgroups of patients with BD based on homogeneous behaviors related to AB. Subsequently, to assess whether affective temperament dimensions may contribute to the presence and severity of AB. METHODS: Patients with BD were recruited. AB was evaluated through the modified overt aggression scale (MOAS); affective temperaments were assessed with the TEMPS-A. A cluster analysis was conducted based on TEMPS-A and MOAS scores. Stepwise backward logistic regression models were used to identify the predictive factors of cluster membership. RESULTS: 799 patients with BD were enrolled. Three clusters were determined: non-aggressive (55.5 %), self-aggressive (18 %), and hetero-aggressive (26.5 %). Depressive, irritable, and anxious temperament scores significantly increased from the non-aggressive (lower) to the self-aggressive (intermediate) and the hetero-aggressive group (highest). A positive history of a suicide attempt (B = 5.131; OR = 169.2, 95 % CI 75.9; 377) and rapid cycling (B = -0.97; OR = 0.40, 95 % CI 0.17; 0.95) predicted self-aggressive cluster membership. Atypical antipsychotics (B = 1.19; OR = 3.28, 95 % CI 2.13; 5.06) or SNRI treatment (B = 1.09; OR = 3, 95 % CI 1.57; 5.71), psychotic symptoms (B = 0.73; OR = 2.09, 95 % CI 1.34; 3.26), and history of a suicide attempt (B = -1.56; OR = 0.20, 95 % CI 0.11; 0.38) predicted hetero-aggressive cluster membership. LIMITATIONS: Recall bias might have affected the recollection of AB. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical factors orientate the prevention of different ABs in BD. Affective temperaments might play a role in preventing AB since patients with more pronounced affective temperaments might have an increased risk of showing AB, in particular hetero-AB.

What Came First, Mania or Depression? Polarity at Onset in Bipolar I and II: Temperament and Clinical Course.

(1) Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is divided into type I (BD-I) and type II (BD-II). Polarity at onset (PO) is a proposal to specify the clinical course of BD, based on the type of the first episode at disorder onset-depressive (D-PO) or manic (M-PO). At the same time, affective temperaments represent preexisting variants of the spectrum of affective disorders. Our objectives were to investigate the hypothesis that temperament may exert an influence on PO, and that this factor can serve as an indicator of the forthcoming course of the disorder, carrying significant therapeutic implications. (2) Methods: We included 191 patients with BD and examined clinical variables and temperament; the latter was assessed using the short version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A-39-SV). We tested the associations between these variables and PO using standard univariate/bivariate methods followed by multivariate logistic regression models. (3) Results: 52.9% of the sample had D-PO and 47.1% had M-PO. D-PO and M-PO patients scored higher for dysthymic and hyperthymic temperaments, respectively (p < 0.001). Also, they differed in BD subtypes, age at first affective episode, illness duration, number of depressive episodes, seasonality, suicide risk, substance use, lithium, and benzodiazepine use (p < 0.05). Only BD-II and age at first depressive episode were predictors of D-PO, whereas BD-I, age at first manic/hypomanic episode, and hyperthymic temperament were predictors of M-PO (p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Our findings point to the importance of carefully assessing temperament and PO in patients with BD, to better predict the clinical course and tailor therapeutic interventions to individual patients' needs.

The relationship between nutritional facts and temperament of selected Iranians' frequent food items: a summative content analysis study.

Introduction: Dietary intake is considered as a major determinant factor in health maintenance as well as primary and secondary prevention of diseases. The knowledge on the relationship between food nutritional facts and their temperament (Mizaj) can be helpful in the integrative Iranian medicine and modern nutrition approach to individualized diet planning. Material and methods: This study was carried out in three phases using a summative content analysis method: 1) Extraction of the Iranians' frequent food items through an academic discussion panel of nutritionists and MDs, PhDs of Iranian medicine; 2) Determination of the extracted food items' temperament and nutritional facts; 3) Statistical analysis of the extracted data using SPSS software. Results: Foods with warm temperament had higher mean levels of energy and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as iron, zinc, and manganese. On the other hand, the mean values of total fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamin B12, and retinol were significantly higher in wet temperament foods. Additionally, the dryness of food items had a positive significant association with total carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese. Finally, wet foods had higher amounts of moisture and vitamin A. Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed that warmness of food items is associated with higher amounts of macronutrients as well as cell growth and proliferation related micronutrients. Moreover, foods with dry temperament had higher amounts of minerals. Further studies, especially food analytical studies, are required to validate the accuracy of aforementioned findings.

Effects of the Interaction between Affective Temperaments and BIS/BAS on Depressive Symptoms in Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.

Depressive symptoms (DepS) associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) are influenced by affective temperaments (ATs), behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and behavioral activation system (BAS). However, the effect of interactions between ATs and BIS/BAS on DepS in MDD remains poorly understood. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of these interactions. The Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A), BIS/BAS questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate ATs, BIS/BAS, and DepS, respectively, in 90 participants with MDD. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis to assess the interaction effect. The interaction (ß = 0.199, p < 0.05) between depressive temperament (DepT) (ß = 0.319, p < 0.01) and BIS scores (ß = 0.300, p < 0.01) exhibited a significant positive effect on DepS (ΔR2 = 0.038, p < 0.05). However, the interaction between ATs and BAS scores did not exhibit a significant effect on DepS. Our findings suggest that interactions between BIS sensitivity and DepT worsen DepS in individuals with MDD. Hence, to manage DepS associated with BIS sensitivity and DepT, evaluating their interaction may be useful in daily clinical practice. This study presents important insights into MDD psychopathology.

What influences psychological functioning in patients with mood disorders? The role of clinical, sociodemographic, and temperamental characteristics in a naturalistic study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to assess clinical and psychological correlates of psychological functioning in patients with mood disorders, in a naturalistic setting. In particular, we aimed to describe which sociodemographic, clinical, and temperamental dispositions are more frequently associated with poor psychological functioning, and to describe the association between cognitive and psychological functioning in euthymic patients with major depression and bipolar disorder. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) diagnosis of major depression, or bipolar disorder type I or II; (2) age between 18 and 65 years; and (3) being in a stable phase of the disorder. Patients' psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, affective temperaments, and impulsivity were investigated with validated assessment instruments. RESULTS: 166 patients have been recruited, mainly female (55.4%), whose mean age was 47.1 ± 14.2 years. 42.6% of individuals reported a diagnosis of major depression. According to regression analyses, poor cognitive performance (p < 0.05), reduced perceived quality of life (p < .0001), lifetime suicide attempts (p < 0.01), and increased trait-related impulsivity (p <0 .001) strongly correlated with poor psychological functioning. Moreover, cyclothymic and irritable dispositions were also associated with poor social functioning (p < 0.01), whereas hyperthymic affective disposition was associated to a better psychological performance (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the evidence that patients with mood disorders should be assessed for psychological functioning and affective dispositions, to identify patients at higher risk to develop worse long-term outcomes and to develop targeted interventions.

Trait-Related Impulsivity, Affective Temperaments and Mood Disorders: Results from a Real-World Multicentric Study.

Trait-related impulsiveness is highly prevalent in patients with mood disorders, being associated with negative outcomes. The predictive role of affective temperaments on trait-related impulsivity is still understudied. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between impulsivity and affective temperaments in a sample of euthymic patients with mood disorders. This is a real-world multicentric observational study, carried out at the outpatient units of seven university sites in Italy. All patients filled in the short version of Munster Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The study sample included 653 participants, mainly female (58.2%), with a mean age of 46.9 (±14.1). Regression analyses showed that higher levels of trait-related impulsivity were associated to suicide attempts (p < 0.000), the presence of psychotic symptoms during acute phases (p < 0.05), a seasonal pattern (p < 0.05), a lower age at onset of the disorder (p < 0.05), cyclothymic (p < 0.01) and irritable temperaments (p < 0.01). The results of our study highlight the importance to screen patients with mood disorders for impulsivity and affective temperaments in order to identify patients who are more likely to present a worse outcome and to develop personalized and integrated early pharmacological and psychosocial treatment plans. Novelties of the present paper include the recruitment of patients in a stable phase, which reduced possible bias in patients' self-reports, and the multicentric nature of the study, resulting in the recruitment of a large sample of patients with mood disorders, geographically distributed across Italy, thus improving the generalizability of study results.

Emotional Temperament and Character Dimensions and State Anger as Predictors of Preference for Rap Music in Italian Population.

The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between affective temperaments dimensions, trait anger, and the preference for rap music in a sample of Italian adults. An online survey was administered to 662 subjects. We assessed preference for rap music using a Likert scale. Ina addition, we investigated the sample' affective temperament traits using the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) short scale and the trait anger by using the Trait Anger component of the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 (STAXI-2). Multiple linear regression indicated that cyclothymic temperament score, hyperthymic temperament score, and trait anger scores were positive predictors while older age, and depressive temperament and higher education score were negative predictors of preference for rap music. The results expand previous literature on personality and music preference indicating the association of high energy/high activity temperaments and trait anger to preference for rap music.

Pain sensitivity is modulated by affective temperament: Results from the population-based CHRIS Affective Disorder (CHRIS-AD) study.

BACKGROUND: Nociceptive pain modulation is related to psychological and psychiatric conditions. Evidence from clinical studies backs innate temperaments as potential precursors of mood symptoms and disorders, and pain sensitivity. Our study examines the modulation effect of affective temperaments on pain sensitivity in a general population adult sample, accounting for possible intervening mood symptoms, lifetime anxiety and depression, and pain treatments. METHODS: The sample is part of the CHRIS-AD study, Italy. Primary outcomes were the pain sensitivity questionnaire PSQ-total intensity score and the experimental pressure pain threshold (PPT). Affective temperaments were evaluated with the TEMPS-M. Lifetime depression, anxiety, current mood disorders, and treatments were self-reported via rating-scales. Directed acyclic graphs theory guided linear and mixed linear regression model analyses. RESULTS: Among 3804 participants (aged 18-65; response rate 78.4 %, females 53.3 %, mean age 38.4 years) for any given temperament, both the PSQ-total and the PPT were associated with temperament. The TEMPS-M four cyclothymic-related temperaments aligned on the pain-sensitive pole and the hyperthymic on the pain-resilient pole. The inclusion of current or lifetime mood symptoms, or pain drug use, as possible intervening pathways only partly diluted these associations, with stronger evidence for an effect of trait anxiety. LIMITATIONS: The main limitations were the lack of experimental measures of suprathreshold pain intensity perception, and detailed information on affective disorders in the study population. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis of a biological dichotomous diathesis of affective temperaments towards pain sensitivity; hyperthymic suggesting protection, whereas cyclothymic suggesting predisposition.

The relationship between therapeutic adherence and personality.

Inadequate adherence to long-term therapies significantly affects the course and outcome of the disease, and therefore poses a serious threat to both the effectiveness and success of treatment and the long-term well-being of patients. Therapeutic adherence is an extremely complex process, with a number of risk and protective factors identified, many of which underlie the psychological characteristics of the patient. A number of medication adherence models have been developed to take into account the psychological characteristics of patients, and recent research has examined the relationship between different personality models and adherence to therapeutic recommendations. In this review we aim to summarize current knowledge, adherence models, research findings on the relationship between personality and adherence, including implications for future research.

Cyclothymic affective temperament is independently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVE: Affective temperaments (depressive, anxious, irritable, hyperthymic, and cyclothymic) are regarded as the stable core of personality and when present in their dominant form, are considered subclinical manifestations and high-risk states for various affective disorders. Furthermore, cumulating evidence supports their relationship with cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to assess the association between affective temperaments and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in chronic hypertensive patients. METHODS: In the present cross-sectional study, 296 patients referred to coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) due to suspected coronary artery disease were analyzed. All patients completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Left ventricular mass was quantified by CCTA and indexed to the body surface area (LVMi). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of LVH (men: ≥67.2 g/m2 and women: ≥54.7 g/m2). RESULTS: Among our patient cohort (mean age: 59.4 ± 10.6, 44.9% female), the median LVM and LVMi were 115.5 [88.4-140.7] g and 58.4 [47.4-64.2] g/m2, respectively. Elevated BMI (OR = 1.04 CI: 1.01-1.10, p = 0.04) and cyclothymic affective temperament scores (OR = 1.06 CI: 1.00-1.12, p = 0.04) significantly increased the odds of LVH in multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Assessment of affective temperaments may allow for the identification of chronic hypertensive patients with elevated risk for LVH as a potential target for earlier primary intervention.

Association between affective temperaments and arterial stiffness index in chronic hypertensive patients. / Az affektív temperamentumok és az artériás érfalmerevségi index kapcsolata krónikus hypertoniás betegekben.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Az affektív temperamentumok (depresszív, cyclothym, hyperthym, ingerlékeny, szorongó) a személyiségnek olyan genetikailag meghatározott, felnottkorban stabil részei, amelyekkel jellemezhetok a környezeti ingerekre adott érzelmi válaszok. Az artériás érfalmerevségi index megmutatja, hogy az adott egyénnek a valóságban mért és az elvárt pulzushullám-terjedési sebessége (PWV) milyen arányban áll egymással; pozitív értéke számít kórosnak. Célkituzés: Célunk az volt, hogy az affektív temperamentumok kapcsolatát vizsgáljuk az artériás érfalmerevségi indexszel krónikus hypertoniás betegekben. Módszer: A bevont betegeknél tonometriás eszközzel (PulsePen) mértük a carotis-femoralis PWV-t, mely az artériás érfalmerevség legelfogadottabb markere. Az artériás érfalmerevségi indexet a mért és az elvárt PWV arányában határoztuk meg. Az affektív temperamentumokat a Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire kérdoív (TEMPS-A) segítségével objektivizáltuk. Eredmények: Vizsgálatunkba 185 beteget vontunk be, életkoruk 61,6 (49,5-69,8) év volt. Kortól, nemtol, diabetestol, alkoholfogyasztástól, dohányzástól, BMI-tol, systolés vérnyomástól, összkoleszterinszinttol és GFR-tol független kapcsolatot találtunk az artériás érfalmerevségi index és a depresszív (B = 0,009, 95% CI: 0,002-0,017, p = 0,018), a cyclothym (B = 0,009, 95% CI: 0,002-0,016, p = 0,012), az ingerlékeny (B = 0,013, 95% CI: 0,005-0,021, p<0,001) és a szorongó (B = 0,008, 95% CI: 0,003-0,013, p<0,001) temperamentum között. Következtetés: Újabb kapcsolatot sikerült kimutatni egy cardiovascularis rizikót jelzo paraméter és az affektív temperamentumok között, ami megerosíti ezen személyiségjegyek meghatározásának jelentoségét cardiovascularis prevenciós szempontból is az ismert pszichopatológiai vonatkozások mellett. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(8): 312-318. INTRODUCTION: Affective temperaments (depressive, anxious, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable) are genetically determined, adult-stable parts of the personality that characterize emotional responses to environmental stimuli. The arterial stiffness index demonstrates the ratio of the actually measured and expected pulse wave velocity (PWV) of a given individual. The positive value is considered to be abnormal. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between affective temperaments and arterial stiffness index in chronic hypertensive patients. METHOD: Carotid-femoral PWV, the most accepted marker of arterial stiffness, was measured using a tonometric device (PulsePen). The arterial stiffness index was determined as the ratio of measured and expected PWVs. Affective temperaments were evaluated by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). RESULTS: The study included 185 patients, with a mean age of 61.6 (49.5-69.8) years. We found association between arterial stiffness index and depressive (B = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.009-0.017, p = 0.018), cyclothymic (B = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.002-0.016, p = 0.012), irritable (B = 0.013, 95% CI: 0.005-0.021, p = 0.001), and anxious (B = 0.008, 95% CI: 0.003-0.013, p = 0.001) temperaments independent of age, sex, diabetes, alcohol consumption, smoking, BMI, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and GFR. CONCLUSION: An additional relationship between a cardiovascular risk measure and affective temperaments has been demonstrated, confirming the importance of determining these personality traits aiming cardiovascular prevention in addition to their known psychopathological aspects. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(8): 312-318.

Affective temperaments and sexual functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

Sexual functioning in bipolar disorder (BD) is dependent on multiple clinical and demographic determinants that can eventually lead to sexual dysfunction. However, the contribution of affective temperaments remains unstudied in this population. In this cross-sectional multicentric work, we studied the impact of temperament traits on sexual functioning in 100 euthymic BD outpatients treated only with mood stabilizers with or without benzodiazepines. Temperament was evaluated using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego - Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and sexual functioning with the Changes on Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). The effect of temperament on sexual functioning was analyzed using Bayesian ordinal regression models, which included age, gender, BD type, dominant polarity, metabolic syndrome, marital status, and affective symptomatology. Our results showed that hyperthymic traits predicted a significantly higher CSFQ-14 score for global sexual functioning (OR = 1.222; 95% CI [1.073, 1.431]), desire (OR = 1.164; 95% CI [1.025, 1.357]), arousal (OR = 1.278; 95% CI: [1.083, 1.551]), and orgasm (OR = 1.182; 95% CI [1.037, 1.365]). We did not find a significant contribution for other types of temperaments. Better sexual functioning was also associated with a better quality of life. Our findings highlight the importance of temperament traits in sexual functioning in euthymic BD, which may have implications in sexual dysfunction prevention.