Temperament, life events, and psychopathology among the offspring of bipolar parents.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examines the relationship between temperament, recent and remote life events, and psychopathology among the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder and well comparisons.


METHODS
Offspring of bipolar and well parents were clinically assessed using KSADS-PL format interviews. Lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were made on a blind consensus basis in accordance with DSM-IV criteria. Depending on offspring age, either the child or their parent on their behalf, completed a semi-structured interview quantifying the number and impact of recent life events and remote permanent losses, as well as a measure of temperament.


RESULTS
In this study, there was an association between psychopathology and the number of recent negative life events, but no association between psychopathology and the number of early losses. Emotionality was positively correlated with recent life events. However, in stepwise regression analyses, only emotionality significantly contributed to lifetime psychopathology in general and emotionality and age contributed to the risk of mood disorder in particular.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings, replicate in a sample of offspring at high risk for bipolar disorder, previously reported associations between high emotionality and unipolar depression. In this population, any effect of undesirable life events would appear to be mediated through the association with emotionality.
Duffy
Anne
A
Department of Psychiatry, Montreal Children's Hospital, 4018 St.-Catherine St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. anne.duffy@mcgill.ca
Alda
Martin
M
Trinneer
Anne
A
Demidenko
Natasha
N
Grof
Paul
P
Goodyer
Ian M
IM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013694:Temperament