Temperamental Characteristics in Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison with Bipolar Disorder and Healthy Control Groups

Abstract

ObjectiveTo date, the affective temperamental characteristics of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not been studied. The aim of this study is to explore those temperamental characteristics for adults diagnosed with ADHD as measured by the TEMPS-A and then to compare those results with results for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) and with healthy controls.MethodsForty adults with ADHD, 40 patients with BD, and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The groups were matched by age and gender. All patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID I), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Wender Utah Rating Scale. Subjects' temperamental characteristics were examined using the Turkish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A).ResultsTen subjects (25%) in the ADHD group and 15 subjects (30%) in the bipolar group had at least one dominant temperament. There was no identifiable dominant temperament in the control group. Compared to the control group, the ADHD group scored higher than other groups on all domains of the TEMPS-A: depressive cyclothymic, irritable and anxious. However, the hyperthymic domain was not higher for this group. Adults with ADHD scored higher on the irritable temperament scale as compared to the BD group. The ADHD and BD groups had similar mean scores for each of the other four temperaments.ConclusionThe adults diagnosed with ADHD in this study had different temperamental characteristics from the control group, and these temperamental characteristics were similar to those of the bipolar patients. Recognizing the role of temperamental characteristics in adults with ADHD may increase our understanding of ADHD.

Affective temperaments in pregnancy

“…Previous studies showed that cyclothymic temperament is a significant predictor for bipolar disorder, particularly bipolar II [1]. Recent studies have shown that cyclothymic temperament could play a major role in response to medication in mood disorders [22]; these studies have attempted to determine the importance of high cyclothymic temperament scores in other fields such alcohol addiction [23], suicidal behavior [24,25], and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [26]. Cyclothymic temperament progresses with fast mood changes.…”

The Characteristics of Mood Polarity, Temperament, and Suicide Risk in Adult ADHD

“…The prevalence of these traits may confirm the hypothesis of emotional lability as a core symptom of ADHD [46]. Another study [47] underlined the differences in temperament between ADHD patients and healthy controls. Consistent with our results.…”

Affective Temperaments in Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Other studies showed higher scores of depressive and anxious temperaments in BD (25). Likewise, it was shown that all temperament scores, except the score for hyperthymic temperament, were higher in the ADHD group than that of the control group (25).…”

“…Previous studies have reported that hyperthymic, cyclothymic, and irritable temperaments are prominent in patients with BD (28,29). Other studies showed higher scores of depressive and anxious temperaments in BD (25). Likewise, it was shown that all temperament scores, except the score for hyperthymic temperament, were higher in the ADHD group than that of the control group (25).…”

“…An association was shown between the individuals who previously received ADHD and bipolar affective disorder diagnoses. Studies had previously shown that affective temperaments were more common in individuals with an ADHD diagnoses, but affective temperaments had not been studied in the parents of children with ADHD diagnoses (25).…”