Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between self-esteem, impulsivity and temperament, and to investigate whether it is differentially related to gender.

Methods: One hundred consecutive cases who referred to our outpatient clinic for routine control and gave informed consent and who were diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder according to DSM-IV and were in remission period for at least eight week were evaluated. Impulsivity was evaluated with the Barrat Impulsivity Scale, self-esteem was evaluated with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and affective temperament was evaluated with the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire.

Results: A moderate inverse relation was found between impulsivity and self-esteem. This relation was stronger in women than men. Impulsivity was found to be moderately related with depressive and anxious temparements and strongly related with cyclothymic and irritable temparements. There was no relation between impulsivity and hyperthymic temperament. A moderate level relation was found between self-esteem and hyperthymic temperament. This relation was stronger in men than women.

Conclusion: Self-esteem, impulsivity and temperament are differentially related to gender in bipolar patients.

Key words: Bipolar disorder, impulsivity, self-esteem, temperament