Validation of the combined emotional and affective temperament scale in a large sample with high prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Based on a model where temperament works as a system with activation, inhibition and control, which produce the affective tone, we developed and validated the Combined Emotional and Affective Temperament Scale (CEATS). This paper aims to validate the CEATS in a large population with high prevalence of psychiatric disorders. METHODS: 4,381 subjects (25.5% males) completed an internet version of the scale on a psychoeducational website on bipolar disorders. The CEATS has both emotional and affective sections and an evaluation of problems and benefits related to temperament. Data were analyzed with standard psychometric batteries. RESULTS: In the emotional section, four factors with an eigenvalue >1 explained 47.3% of the variation. They were interpreted as anger, control, fear and drive. They had a normal distribution and satisfactory Chronbach's alphas. Anger was particularly associated with problems, and drive with benefits. In the Affective section, all 10 categorical affective temperaments were selected, cyclothymic being the most prevalent (32%), and 97.6% of the sample was able to ascribe to at least one affective temperament. Only the euthymic and hyperthymic temperaments were associated with a favorable problem/benefit profile. Each affective temperament had a particular emotional configuration. CONCLUSION: The CEATS is adequate to assess emotional and affective temperament in subjects with high prevalence of psychiatric disorders.