Temperament characteristics of child and adolescent bipolar offspring.
BACKGROUND
We wished to characterize temperament of children at high risk for bipolar disorder (BD).


METHODS
We collected data from the Dimensions of Temperament-Revised (DOTS-R) from 53 biological offspring of at least one parent with BD.


RESULTS
Overall, our cohort differed from population means for the DOTS-R, having decreased Activity Level-General scores, and increased Approach, and Rhythmicity-Sleep scores. Offspring with psychiatric disorders differed from those without in having decreased Flexibility, Mood, and Task Orientation scores. Temperament profiles for diagnostic categories of BD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were performed in a descriptive manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Self- or parent-report of temperament was used rather than clinical observation. Temperament characterization was cross-sectional and retrospective rather than prospective and may overlap with clinical diagnoses.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of temperament may be useful in characterizing bipolar offspring. Decreased flexibility and task orientation, and presence of negative moods may be correlated with development of psychopathology.
Chang
Kiki D
KD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5719, USA. kchang88@stanford.edu
Blasey
Christine M
CM
Ketter
Terence A
TA
Steiner
Hans
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament