Temperament in child offspring of parents with bipolar disorder

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between temperament and psychopathology in child offspring of parents with bipolar disorder.

The Dimensions of Temperament-Revised (DOTS-R) and the Washington University in St. Louis Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (WASH U K-SADS) were used to assess temperament and psychopathology, respectively in offspring (8-18 years) of parents with bipolar I disorder (OBP, n = 31) and demographically similar healthy offspring of parents without any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis (OHC, n = 21).

Compared to OHC, OBP had increased Activity Level-General scores (effect size, d = -0.78), and a trend for decreased Task Orientation (d = -0.78). OBP with mood disorders had trends for decreased Approach (d = 0.89), Flexibility-Rigidity (d = 1.01), Rhythmicity-Sleep (d = 0.79), and Task Orientation (d = 0.89) as compared to OBP without mood disorders. OBP with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed a trend for decreased Task Orientation scores compared with those without ADHD (d = 0.82).

Although limited by parent report, specific temperaments may be important in characterizing offspring of parents with bipolar disorder. Longitudinal studies to determine if certain temperaments inform treatment response and prognosis in this population are needed.