Measuring affective temperaments: a systematic review of validation studies of the Temperament Evaluation in Memphis Pisa and San Diego (TEMPS) instruments

Liana R Elias; Cristiano A Köhler; Brendon Stubbs; Beatriz R Maciel; Lígia M Cavalcante; Antonio M O Vale; Xénia Gonda; João Quevedo; Thomas N Hyphantis; Jair C Soares; Eduard Vieta; André F Carvalho

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.023

Measuring affective temperaments: a systematic review of validation studies of the Temperament Evaluation in Memphis Pisa and San Diego (TEMPS) instruments

J Affect Disord. 2017 Apr 1:212:25-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.023. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Affiliations

¹ Translational Psychiatry Research Group and Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
² Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom; Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London Box SE5 8AF, United Kingdom; Faculty of Health, Social care and Education, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, United Kingdom.
³ Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kutvolgyi Clinical Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁴ Laboratory of Neurosciences, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciuma, SC 88806-000, Brazil; Center for Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece.
⁶ Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
⁷ Bipolar Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
⁸ Translational Psychiatry Research Group and Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Institute for Clinical Research and Education in Medicine, I.R.E.M., Padova, Italy. Electronic address: andrefc7@terra.com.br.

PMID: 28135688
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.023

Abstract

Background: The assessment of affective temperaments has provided useful insights for the psychopathological understanding of affective disorders and for the conceptualization of bipolar spectrum disorders. The Temperament in Memphis Pisa and San Diego (TEMPS) instrument has been widely used in research, yet its psychometric properties and optimal factor structure are unclear.

Methods: The PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE electronic databases were searched from inception until March 15th, 2016. Validation peer-reviewed studies of different versions of the TEMPS performed in adult samples were considered for inclusion.

Results: Twenty-seven studies (N=20,787) met inclusion criteria. Several versions of the TEMPS have been validated in 14 languages across 15 countries. The 110-item self-reported version of the TEMPS has been the most studied version. Most studies (50%) supported a five factor solution although few studies performed confirmatory factor analyses. A five-factor solution has consistently been reported for the 39-item version of the TEMPS-A. Overall, evidence indicates that different versions of the TEMPS have adequate internal consistency reliability, while the TEMPS-A-110 version has acceptable test-retest reliability. The methodological quality of included studies varied.

Limitations: A meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of settings and versions of the TEMPS utilized.

Conclusions: Different versions of the TEMPS have been validated across different cultures. The short 39-item version of the TEMPS-A holds promise and merits further investigation. Culture-bound factors may influence the expression and/or assessment of affective temperaments with the TEMPS.

Keywords: Affective disorders; Affective temperaments; Mood disorders; Psychiatry; Temperament in Memphis Pisa and San Diego; Validation.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Male
Personality Inventory*
Reproducibility of Results
Self Report
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temperament*