[Purpose] This study aimed to compare the most common dominant affective temperaments in
Ankylosing Spondylitis patients and investigate the relationship between the dominant
affective temperaments and pain levels, disease activity, quality of life, current
depression, and anxiety level in Ankylosing Spondylitis patients. [Subjects and Methods]
Fifty-one patients diagnosed with axial spondiloartropathy and forty-two age- and
gender-matched control subjects were included in this study. Disease duration, erythrocyte
sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein, pain by the Visual Analog Scale, disease
activity by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, functional status by
the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; psychological status by the Beck
Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and overall health assessment by the
Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Scale were assessed in patients. The Turkish
version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto
Questionnaire was used to determine the dominant affective temperament. [Results] There
was no statistical difference in the distribution of temperament subtypes between patients
with Ankylosing Spondylitis and the controls. Depressive, anxious, and cyclothymic
temperament scores were higher in patients with high values on the Bath Ankylosing
Spondylitis Functional Index and Visual Analog Scale. There was a correlation between
anxious subtypes of affective temperament scores and the value of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Quality of Life Scale. Correlation analysis also found depressive, cyclothymic, irritable,
and anxious temperament and psychiatric symptoms to be significantly related. [Conclusion]
Affective temperament may contribute to symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients
with Ankylosing Spondylitis and may increase disease activity and may reduce their quality
of life.