Objective: 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 risk for mood disorders.
Methods: 4381 subjects (25.5% males) completed an internet version of the scale in 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 was analyzed with standard psychometric batteries.
Results: in the Emotional section, 4 factors with Eingenvalue>1 explained 47.3% of the variation. They were interpreted as drive, control, fear and anger, 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, being cyclothymic 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 risk for mood disorders.