Delineation of a Genetically Validated Affective Temperament Scale: Association of TEMPS-A Items with 5-HTTLPR

Abstract

Background:

Affective temperaments as measured by the TEMPS-A are known to be associated with 5-HTTLPR, however, this association is valid in case of all scales within the depressive superfactor (depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, anxious). Less attention was paid to the association of items composing these affective temperament scales with the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of TEMPS-A items with the s allele of the 5-HTTLPR.

Method:

138 psychiatrically healthy women completed the TEMPS-A questionnaire and were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Scores of subjects on the temperament scales, subscales and items were compared in subjects carrying and not carrying the s allele (dominant model) using ANOVA. We selected items with significantly different mean scores between two groups and performed item analysis.

Results:

Subjects in the two groups had significantly different scores on the depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament scales. Subjects carrying and not carrying the s allele had significantly different scores on 12 items, 9 of which were retained in a derived 5-HTTLPR phenotype scale after item analysis.

Discussion:

Our data provide further support for the association of affective temperaments with the s allele. Although the cyclothymic temperament shows the strongest association, all temperaments within the depressive superfactor have a similar share in this association. The newly derived 5-HTTLPR Phenotype Scale shows strong association with 5-HTTLPR genotype and phenotype, therefore this scale should be further investigated in relation to psychiatric disorders, pharmacological response, and suicide, as well as psychological traits and temperaments.