Mood Temperaments in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Temperamental traits are stable, biologically based personality characteristics that shape an individual's emotional and behavioral responses. While certain traits, in their extreme expressions, may predispose individuals to mood disorders and diabetes-related distress, others may confer resilience and protective benefits. Evaluating the prevalence and patterns of these traits in diabetic patients is therefore essential for a holistic understanding of their psychological profile. This study aimed to assess and compare temperamental characteristics between diabetic patients and healthy individuals.

This cross-sectional study included diabetic patients referred to the internal medicine and psychiatry clinics at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Temperamental traits were assessed in both patients and a healthy control group using the shortened Persian version of the TEMPS-A, a self-report questionnaire designed in 2005 to evaluate anxious, depressive, irritable, cyclothymic, and hyperthymic temperaments. The Persian version's validity and reliability had been confirmed, and the study assessed these traits in diabetic patients using this validated tool.

A total of 62 participants were included, with a mean age of 46.33 ± 14.87 years. The case group was significantly older (p = 0.0001) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.002) than the control group. The case group showed a significantly higher dysthymic temperament score (p = 0.040). No significant differences were found in irritable, anxious, cyclothymic, or hyperthymic temperament, though hyperthymic temperament scores were higher in men in the case group (p = 0.044). Age was not significantly associated with temperamental traits.

This study highlights the importance of assessing affective temperaments, particularly depressive (dysthymic) temperament, in the management of diabetes. The presence of this temperamental trait suggests a higher vulnerability for developing mood disorders. Therefore, routine psychological screening for such predispositions is essential for identifying at-risk patients and implementing early interventions to improve overall treatment outcomes and quality of life.