We also assessed the five temperaments with regard to several clinical characteristics, as detailed in Table S1. The dysthymic, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments revealed a consistent pattern of moderate positive correlations (r=0.14 to 0.39, p<0.001) with suicidal ideation, rapid cycling, and co-morbid anxiety spectrum disorders. The cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments additionally revealed significantly more manic and depressive episodes per year of illness and more mixed symptoms in both mania and depression (p<0.001). The hyperthymic temperament, on the other hand, revealed only a weak negative correlation with social phobia (r=−0.12, p<0.001) and no significant correlations with any other clinical factor. These results further suggest that the hyperthymic temperament may represent an independent subtype of BD with a different course of illness.
