Biological aspect of hyperthymic temperament: light, sleep, and serotonin.
BACKGROUND
Hyperthymic temperament is one of several premorbid temperaments putatively associated with bipolar disorder. Several reports suggest that depressive patients with hyperthymic temperament may belong to the proposed soft bipolar spectrum.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate biological aspects of hyperthymic temperament, the present study examined daily activity, sleep time, central serotonergic function, and other relevant variables in relation to hyperthymic temperament in healthy subjects.


METHODS
Fifty six healthy subjects were monitored via the actigraphy system to measure daily total activity, sleep time, and illuminance. A neuroendocrine challenge test was performed to estimate central serotonergic function.


RESULTS
Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher illuminance of daytime, greater fluctuation in sleep time, and lower central serotonergic function significantly and independently predicted hyperthymic temperament scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that light, sleep, and serotonin are crucial factors in understanding hyperthymic temperament, which may be common to bipolar disorder.
Hoaki
Nobuhiko
N
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu City, Oita, Japan.
Terao
Takeshi
T
Wang
Yumei
Y
Goto
Shinjiro
S
Tsuchiyama
Kounosuke
K
Iwata
Noboru
N
D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012890:Sleep; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D012701:Serotonin
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