The effects of mental state on assessment of bipolar temperament

Although the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A) was designed to identify temperaments which derive from traits but not states, there is a possibility that TEMPS-A scores might be affected by mental state in non-clinical populations. For the purpose of clarifying the effects of mental state on TEMPS-A scores, it is worthwhile to examine associations of the full version of the TEMPS-A with various depressive scales and, if possible, mania rating scales.

TEMPS-A data acquired from 314 medical students and staff was used to investigate the association of temperament scores with mental assessment scores such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report Japanese version (QIDS-SR-J), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Hamilton Depression rating scale (HAM-D) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).

Depressive state scores were significantly and positively associated with depressive, anxious, cyclothymic, and irritable temperament scores of TEMPS-A whereas sub-threshold hypomanic state scores were significantly and positively associated with irritable temperament of TEMPS-A. There was no association between depressive state or sub-threshold hypomanic state and hyperthymic temperament scores.

The nature of the present study is cross-sectional, and it is unknown whether depressive and/or sub-threshold hypomanic states may have affected temperament scores or whether temperament scores might have affected depressive and/or sub-threshold hypomanic scores. Other limitations are that the sample may not represent the entire population and that there is no evidence that Japanese findings can be applicable outside Japan.

It is worthwhile to consider the effects of mental state on temperament scores of TEMPS-A even in non-clinical population.