Description and validation of the Affective Temperament Questionnaire

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry 2009-09, Vol.50 (5), p.477-484
• Main Authors: Light, Katrina J, Joyce, Peter R, Frampton, Christopher M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arousal; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - diagnosis; Bipolar Disorder - genetics; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Cyclothymic Disorder - diagnosis; Cyclothymic Disorder - genetics; Cyclothymic Disorder - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - genetics; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Dysthymic Disorder - diagnosis; Dysthymic Disorder - genetics; Dysthymic Disorder - psychology; Emotional disorders; Families & family life; Female; Humans; Irritable Mood; Likert scale; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - diagnosis; Mood Disorders - genetics; Mood Disorders - psychology; New Zealand; Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Phenotype; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quantitative genetics; Reproducibility of Results; Statistical methods; Studies; Techniques and methods; Temperament
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.07.008

Abstract Background Akiskal and Mallya ( Psychopharmacol Bull . 1987;23:68-73) proposed criteria defining 4 affective temperaments—hyperthymic, irritable, cyclothymic, and dysthymic. This study aims to develop and validate, using a 3-point rating scale, a short questionnaire that assesses these temperaments. Methods The Affective Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) was administered to a family-based sample of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP), or no mood disorder (N = 378). Factor analyses, internal consistency, and analysis of variance were undertaken to examine the factorial structure and concurrent validity (relative to Axis I mood disorder diagnosis) of the ATQ. Affective Temperament Questionnaire data were evaluated with respect to raw scores and dominant affective temperament. Results Three factors emerged—hyperthymia, cyclothymia, and dysthymia—which had moderate to high internal consistency. Support for the concurrent validity of ATQ was found, whereby temperament scores and rates of dominant affective temperaments differed with respect to mood disorder diagnosis. Hyperthymia and cyclothymia were more prevalent among individuals with BP than among individuals with MDD or no history of a mood disorder. Dysthymia occurred at a relatively similar rate among individuals with MDD or BP. Conclusions Our findings support the use of the ATQ for collecting information regarding affective temperaments and for furthering understanding regarding the links between affective temperament and mood disorders.