Temperament Subtypes in Treatment Seeking Obese Individuals: A Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate temperament subtypes in obese patients. Methods Ninety‐three bariatric surgery candidates and 63 obese inpatients from a psychotherapy unit answered the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS), the Effortful Control subscale of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire‐Short Form (ATQ‐EC), and questionnaires for eating disorder, depressive and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and completed neurocognitive testing for executive functions. Binge eating disorder and impulse control disorders were diagnosed using interviews. Results A latent profile analysis using BIS/BAS and ATQ‐EC scores revealed a ‘resilient/high functioning’ cluster ( n = 88) showing high ATQ‐EC and low BIS/BAS scores and an ‘emotionally dysregulated/undercontrolled’ cluster ( n = 68) with low ATQ‐EC and high BIS/BAS scores. Patients from the ‘emotionally dysregulated/undercontrolled’ cluster showed more eating disorder, depressive and ADHD symptoms, and poorer performance in the labyrinth task. Conclusion The findings support the assumptions regarding the heterogeneity of obesity and the association between temperament subtypes and psychopathology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.