Affective temperaments (AT) are suggested as antecedents of mood disorders (MD) currently. MD especially depression is very common in epilepsy. In this study we investigated AT in epilepsy as probable predictors of MD.

83 epileptic patients and 83 healthy controls were included and evaluated using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A) and SCID-I.

In epilepsy group 16 depressive, 3 cyclotimic, 12 irritable, 9 anxious temperaments; in healthy group 4 depressive, 3 irritable, 4 anxious temperaments were diagnosed. The difference was significant in depressive (x2: 8.36, p< 0.05) and irritable temperament (x2: 6.06, p< 0.05). Depressive, cyclotimic, irritable, anxious temperaments mean scores were significantly higher in epilepstics (depressive 8.35±4,37; cyclotimic 9,86± 4,67; irritable 7,00±4,58; anxious 9,18±5,94) than healthy controls (depressive 5,89±3,68; cyclotimic 6,87±4,55; irritable 3,39±3,57; anxious 5,11±4,78) (all p< 0,001). 16 patients in epilepsy group and 6 patients in control group were diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and the difference was significant (x2: 5,38, p< 0,05). Anxious temperament predicted MDD in epileptics and none of the temperaments were significant predictor of MDD in controls in logistic regression analysis.

Epileptic patients had higher scores at all AT except hypertimic. Anxious and irritable temperaments were diagnosed more in epileptics and anxious temperament was related with MDD. The tendency of epileptics to MD are known but this is the first study shows tendency of epileptics to AT. Further investigations are needed to explain the etiology and treatment relationship between MD and AT in epilepsy.