Bipolar sensation seeking is associated with a propensity to abuse rather than to temperamental characteristics

As some temperament profiles may be markers of genetic vulnerability traits, we aimed to compare sensation seeking in euthymic bipolar patients and in controls.

One hundred ninety-four patients fulfilling DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorders (BP), 81% of whom presented type I BP, and 95 controls were included in this study. Euthymia was assessed using both the MADRS and Bech mania scales. Subjects were evaluated using the French abbreviated form of Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), which provide a total score (TS) and four subscores: Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS), Experience Seeking (ES), Disinhibition (Dis), and Boredom Susceptibility (BS).

SSS total score differed significantly between men (17.2 +/- 0.5) and women (15.3 +/- 0.6) (P = 0.02) and all the subscores were negatively correlated with age. On adjustment for sex and age, we found that bipolar patients had a high Dis score (P = 0.003). However, if the same analysis was performed with a lifetime history of alcohol abuse or dependence as a covariable, no such difference was found (P = 0.436). The SSS demonstrated a high degree of test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.91).

These results suggest that sensation seeking assessed with the SSS is not a temperament characteristic associated with bipolar disorders but is instead linked to a tendency towards alcohol abuse.