Cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments may predict bipolarity in major depressive disorder: a supportive evidence for bipolar II1/2 and IV.
BACKGROUND
The concept of soft bipolar spectrum has not been fully confirmed. The aim of the present study is to investigate the validity of bipolar II1/2 and IV concept.


METHODS
The subjects were 46 consecutive outpatients. The individual temperament of each patient was recorded using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). The operational definition of bipolar II1/2 was those who had depression with cyclothymic temperament and that of bipolar IV was those who had depression with hyperthymic temperament. Finally, drug responses were investigated.


RESULTS
DSM-IV-TR diagnoses were bipolar I (N=1), bipolar II (N=9), major depressive disorder (N=34) and depressive disorder not otherwise specified (N=2). Excluding one bipolar I patient, who had both cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments, patients with bipolar II1/2 (N=32) and IV (N=13) as well as bipolar II (N=9) were classified into the soft bipolar spectrum, although there was considerable overlap. The categorization of soft bipolar spectrum and unipolar depression significantly predicted depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments. Moreover, soft bipolar spectrum patients with lithium treatment were significantly more in remission than those without lithium treatment. In addition, more of those with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had a significant tendency to lower remission than those without SSRIs.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a cross-sectional study with a relatively small number of subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments may predict bipolarity, and the validity of bipolar II1/2 and IV concept is supported.
Goto
Shinjiro
S
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Idaigaoka 1-1, Hasama machi, Yufu city, Oita, 879-5593, Japan.
Terao
Takeshi
T
Hoaki
Nobuhiko
N
Wang
Yumei
Y
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013694:Temperament
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors