Affective temperaments are subclinical (i.e., subthreshold) trait-like manifestations, which are not necessarily linked to mood disorders.3 In other words, when viewed as the sub-threshold end of a spectrum spanning normal functioning, affective temperaments can be precursors or attenuated manifestations of mood disorders.3
References:
1. Kwapil TR, DeGeorge D, Walsh MA, et al. Affective temperaments: unique constructs or dimensions of normal personality by another name? J Affect Disord 2013; 151 (3): 882–890.
2. Akiskal HS, Akiskal K, Allilaire JF, et al. Validating affective temperaments in their subaffective and socially positive attributes: psychometric, clinical and familial data from a French national study. J Affect Disord 2005; 85 (1–2): 29–36.
3. Faedda GL, Baldessarini RJ, Marangoni C, et al. An International Society of Bipolar Disorders task force report: precursors and prodromes of bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2019; 21 (8): 720–740.
4. Solmi M, Zaninotto L, Toffanin T, et al. A comparative meta-analysis of TEMPS scores across mood disorder patients, their first-degree relatives, healthy controls, and other psychiatric disorders. J Affect Disord 2016; 196: 32–46.