Description and validation of the Affective Temperament Questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
Akiskal and Mallya (Psychopharmacol Bull. 1987;23:68-73) proposed criteria defining 4 affective temperaments-hyperthymic, irritable, cyclothymic, and dysthymic. This study aims to develop and validate, using a 3-point rating scale, a short questionnaire that assesses these temperaments.


METHODS
The Affective Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) was administered to a family-based sample of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BP), or no mood disorder (N = 378). Factor analyses, internal consistency, and analysis of variance were undertaken to examine the factorial structure and concurrent validity (relative to Axis I mood disorder diagnosis) of the ATQ. Affective Temperament Questionnaire data were evaluated with respect to raw scores and dominant affective temperament.


RESULTS
Three factors emerged--hyperthymia, cyclothymia, and dysthymia--which had moderate to high internal consistency. Support for the concurrent validity of ATQ was found, whereby temperament scores and rates of dominant affective temperaments differed with respect to mood disorder diagnosis. Hyperthymia and cyclothymia were more prevalent among individuals with BP than among individuals with MDD or no history of a mood disorder. Dysthymia occurred at a relatively similar rate among individuals with MDD or BP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the use of the ATQ for collecting information regarding affective temperaments and for furthering understanding regarding the links between affective temperament and mood disorders.
Light
Katrina J
KJ
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand. katrina.light@chmeds.ac.nz
Joyce
Peter R
PR
Frampton
Christopher M A
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D009520:New Zealand; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013694:Temperament