Differences in temperament and character dimensions in patients with bipolar I or II or major depressive disorder and general population subjects

• Published in: Psychological medicine 2011-08, Vol.41 (8), p.1579-1591
• Main Authors: Jylhä, P., Mantere, O., Melartin, T., Suominen, K., Vuorilehto, M., Arvilommi, P., Holma, I., Holma, M., Leppämäki, S., Valtonen, H., Rytsälä, H., Isometsä, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Analysis of Variance; Avoidance; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar affective disorder; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Bipolar disorders; Character; Chi-Square Distribution; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Depressive personality disorders; Female; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mood disorders; Novelty seeking; Patients; Personality; Personality Inventory; Population; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Temperament
• ISSN: 0033-2917; 1469-8978
• DOI: 10.1017/S0033291710002606

Whether temperament and character differ between bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and general population subjects, or between BD I and BD II patients, remains unclear. BD patients (n=191) from the Jorvi Bipolar Study and MDD patients (n=266) from the Vantaa Depression Study (VDS) and the Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study were interviewed at baseline, at 6 and 18 months, and in the VDS at 5 years. A general population comparison group (n=264) was surveyed by mail. BD patients' scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised were compared at an index interview, when levels of depression and mania were lowest, with scores of MDD patients and controls. BD I (n=99) and BD II (n=92) patients were compared. Compared with controls, both BD and MDD patients had higher harm avoidance [odds ratio (OR) 1.027, p