Original article
Features of affective temperament and schizotypy in relation to mood disorders in the offspring of lithium-treated patients

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate affective temperaments by means of the TEMPS-A (Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire) and schizotypy by means of the O-LIFE (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences) scale, in the offspring of lithium-treated bipolar parents in relation to the occurrence of mood disorders in the offspring.

Material and methods: The study included 50 persons (27 females, 23 males), the offspring of 36 patients with bipolar disorder treated prophylactically with lithium for 5-38 years. Thirteen persons were offspring of excellent lithium responders (ELR). The presence of affective illness was evaluated by the ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria. All subjects were assessed by the TEMPS-A and O-LIFE scales.

Results: Twelve subjects (24%) were treated for mood disorders. The percentage of ill persons was higher in the ELR offspring group (46% vs. 16%) compared to remaining subjects. The offspring with mood disorders obtained higher scores for depressive and anxious temperament on the TEMPS-A scale and for cognitive disorganisation on the O-LIFE scale. Healthy ELR offspring obtained significantly lower scores for depressive and anxious temperaments and for cognitive disorganisation, but higher scores for hyperthymic temperament, compared to ELR offspring with mood disorders.

Conclusions: The results indicate a particularly high prevalence of mood disorders in the offspring of ELR. High indices of depressive and anxious temperament, and of cognitive disorganisation, constitute a risk factor for developing affective illness, both in the whole group and in the ELR offspring. The intensity of hyperthymic temperament reduced the risk of emergence of mood disorders in the ELR offspring.