The relationship between impulsivity and lipid levels in bipolar patients: does temperament explain it?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a relationship between impulsivity and lipid levels in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and to examine the correlation of impulsivity and lipid levels with temperament subtypes.

METHODS

For this purpose, one hundred patients who were admitted to our out-patient unit for routine controls, had been in remission for at least 8weeks, and diagnosed as BD according to the DSM-IV were evaluated consecutively. Impulsivity and temperament were evaluated with the BIS-11 and the TEMPS-A. Blood samples were obtained to measure levels of lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-HDL, low density lipoprotein-LDL).

RESULTS

A weak correlation was found between impulsivity scores and triglyceride levels (r=0.190, p=0.050). Correlation was found between impulsivity scores and depressive, anxious, cyclothymic, and irritable temperaments (r=0.371, p<0.001; r=0.458, p<0.001; r=0.541, p<0.001; r=0.530, p<0.001), while triglyceride levels were only related with depressive and anxious temperaments (r=0.485, p=0.001 and r=0.391, p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Temperament is an important mediator of the relationship between lipid levels and trait impulsivity in patients with BD.