Comparison of temperature characteristics in early and adult depression with healthy controls

Comparıson of Temperature Characterıstıcs in Early and Adult Depressıon Wıth Healthy Controls INTRODUCTION: Depression is an important health problem not only because it is a common mental disorder but also because the disability it causes leads to great losses. Temperament (temperament) consists of genetically transmitted, biologically based, repetitive characteristics that almost never change throughout a persons life. Although the relationship between temperament and mood disorders has been the subject of many studies, the relationship between temperament and age of onset of depression is one of the issues that has not been sufficiently investigated in the literature. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between temperament characteristics and age of onset of depression in patients with major depressive disorder according to DSM-5 criteria and to compare them with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 114 patients who were admitted to the Psychiatry Clinic between 07/11/2022 and 30/12/2022 and diagnosed with depressive disorder were grouped as early onset (18-30 years, n=55) and adult onset (30-65 years, n=59) according to the age of the first episode of depression. Sociodemographic data, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, TEMPS-A Temperament Scale and DSM-5 Structured Clinical Interview were administered to the patients and a control group of 53 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The temperament characteristics of EBD and GBD patients differed from healthy individuals. Depressive and irritable temperament scores were significantly higher in the early-onset depression group than in the late-onset depression group. Among affective temperaments, cyclothymic, irritable, depressive and anxious temperaments alone or having more than one dominant affective temperament is associated with suicidality. CONCLUSIONS: Age at onset of MDD predicts depressive, irritable and anxious temperament scores. Keywords: depression, dominant temperament, early onset depression, temperament