The predictivity role of affective temperaments in mood alteration

Background The affective temperaments are defined as the fundamental predisposition from which normal affective states originate or as the constitutional core of personality. Recently, researchers have started considering the role of affective temperament on the clinical expression of affective disorders. The aim of the study is to learn more about the role of affective temperaments on irritability, anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods 748 subjects belonging to Italian population were included. Data were collected through an online survey including IDAS and TEMPS-A questionnaire. Two correlation analysis were performed to assess sex differences in the affective patterns. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess how age, sex and temperamental dimensions could play a role as predictors of depression, anxiety and irritability symptoms. Results The correlation analysis shows that "Cyclothymic," "Depressive," "Irritable", and "Anxious" temperaments, in both genders, positively correlate with Anxiety, Depression, and Irritability. Hyperthymic temperament, instead, negatively correlates with Depression in men and with both Anxiety and Depression in women. Linear regression show that Cyclothymic, depressive and anxious temperaments are significant predictors of anxiety symptoms while depressive and cyclothymic temperaments are predictors of depressive symptoms. The irritability was found to be a significant predictor of depression and anxiety disorders. The results of the linear regression analysis show that the Cyclothymic and Irritable temperaments significantly predicted “Irritability”. Finally, female sex was found to be a predictor of anxiety (β = 0.090, t = 2.906, p = <0.004) Conclusion The present study confirms the role of affective temperaments as possible risk factors in psychopathological manifestations. Further studies would be necessary in order to investigate the mechanisms of these observed associations.