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Temperament: Clinical Relevance

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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

Temperament primarily signifies innate patterns of neurobehavioral reaction, inhibition, socialization, and emotionality evident very early in development. Neurobiological research findings denote temperament dimensions as endophenotypes with implications for risk and vulnerability in children. Several researchers have defined temperamental dimensions and described its relationship to development and psychopathology. There are associations between various temperamental traits with internalizing disorders as well as externalizing disorders, conversion and psychotic disorders. Study of temperamental individuality helps in understanding psycho-pathogenesis of disorders and also guiding intervention strategies. Management of various psychiatric disorders can address temperamental issues. It is evident that temperament is not merely a theoretical/explanatory concept, but also useful in practice for interventions and therapy.

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Abbreviations

CNS:

Central Nervous system

NYLS:

New York Longitudinal Study

BAS:

Behavioral Activation System

BIS:

Behavioral Inhibition System

ACTH:

Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone

CRH:

Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Savita Malhotra & Soumya Jhanda

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  1. Savita Malhotra
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  2. Soumya Jhanda
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Correspondence to Savita Malhotra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India

    Savita Malhotra

  2. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Serv., Centre for Interventional Paediatric(CIPPRD) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Serv., London, United Kingdom

    Paramala Santosh

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Malhotra, S., Jhanda, S. (2016). Temperament: Clinical Relevance. In: Malhotra, S., Santosh, P. (eds) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3619-1_14

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