Hyperthymic temperament

"Hyperthymia" redirects here. It is not to be confused with hyperthermia.

Hyperthymic temperament, or hyperthymia, from Greek hyper ("over", meaning here excessive) + θυμός ("spirited"), is a proposed personality type characterized by an exceptionally positive mood and disposition. It is generally defined by increased energy, vividness and enthusiasm for life activities as opposed to dysthymia. Hyperthymia is similar to but more stable than hypomania with complete absence of irritability or negative mood effects.[1][2]

Characteristics of the hyperthymic temperament include:[3]


The clinical, psychiatric understanding of hyperthymia is evolving. Studies have shown that hyperthymic temperament promotes efficient performance of complex tasks under time pressure or extreme conditions.[4] Aside from references in historical and more recent writings on the spectrum of mood disorders, further literature on the temperament is lacking.[5][6] There is a lack of agreement on its definition, implications or whether it is pathological. It is not known where to place hyperthymia on the affective spectrum, how to diagnose it, or what such a diagnosis means. Confident use of the term is most common among self-help and non-fiction authors.[7]

In psychiatry, hyperthymia is rarely discussed, and is not an accepted diagnosis. Hyperthymia manifesting intermittently or in an unusual way may mask hypomania or another psychiatric disorder. Hyperthymia can be most accurately diagnosed by a psychiatrist with the help of a patient's family and/or close friends, as these individuals are most likely to have noticed a change in the individual's temperament from euthymia.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "hyperthymia - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  2. ↑ Dubovsky, S.L.; Dubovsky, A.N. (2008). Concise Guide to Mood Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 9781585627653. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  3. ↑ http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/418724(subscriptionrequired)[]
  4. ↑ Jaracz, Marcin; Paciorek, Przemysław; Buciński, Adam; Borkowska, Alina (2014). "Affective temperament and executive functions in emergency medicine professionals". Journal of Affective Disorders. 168: 192–6. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.004. PMID 25063957.
  5. ↑ Féline, A (1993). "Hyperthymic disorders". L'Encephale. 19 (2): 103–7. PMID 8275895.
  6. ↑ Fritze, F; Ehrt, U; Brieger, P (2002). "The concept of hyperthymia". Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie. 70 (3): 117–25. doi:10.1055/s-2002-20530. PMID 11880944.
  7. ↑ "Nassir Ghaemi Uncovers A First-Rate Madness | Observer". observer.com. Retrieved 2015-05-13.

Further reading

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