Cyclothymic temperament: Associations with ADHD, other psychopathology, and medical morbidity in the general population.

Background: Cyclothymic temperament (CT) is an affective disposition often preceding bipolar disorder (BD), and is the most common affective temperament in patients with BD. In depressed patients, CT is a predictor for developing a bipolar course. In a clinical sample of adults with BD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), CT was associated with higher loads of psychiatric symptoms, somatic comorbidity, impairment, and higher morbidity among first-degree relatives. We aimed to investigate the morbidity and occupational functioning of persons with CT in the general population.

Methods: Randomly recruited Norwegian adults (n = 721) were assessed with a 21-item cyclothymic subscale from the TEMPS Autoquestionnaire. Self-reported data were collected on psychiatric symptoms, comorbidity, educational and occupational level, and known family morbidity.

Results: Thirteen percent had CT associated with an increased prevalence of ADHD, BD, high scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), and childhood and adulthood ADHD symptoms. CT was found in 75% (p < .001) of the bipolar participants, and in 68% (p < .001) of those with a positive MDQ score. CT was associated with more anxiety/depression, substance and alcohol problems, lower educational and occupational levels, and having a first-degree relative with anxiety/depression, alcohol problems, ADHD, and BD.

Limitations: The CT subscale alone might include overlapping features with cyclothymic, anxious, irritable, and depressed temperaments, thus increasing the prevalence estimate of CT.

Conclusions: CT is a strong predictor of occupational failure and associated with more psychiatric impairment in the participants and their families. CT should be assessed in both mood disorder and ADHD patients.