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Psychological processes in bipolar affective disorder: negative cognitive style and reward processing
Emma Van der Gucht1, Richard Morriss, Gill Lancaster
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|February 3, 2009
Summary
This study reveals distinct psychological processes underlying mania and depression in bipolar disorder. Cognitive vulnerability to depression persists even during remission, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Psychological processes are crucial for understanding bipolar disorder.
- Identifying specific mechanisms is key for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate depressogenic psychological processes and reward responsivity across mood states in bipolar disorder.
- To correlate these processes with overall bipolar symptomatology.
Main Methods:
- 107 individuals with bipolar disorder (manic, depressed, euthymic) and 41 controls were assessed.
- Measures included diagnostic interviews and self-rated/experimental assessments of cognitive styles, coping, self-esteem, and reward responsiveness.
Main Results:
- Bipolar disorder patients showed differences from controls in depression-related and reward responsivity measures.
- Negative cognitive styles correlated with depressive symptoms, while reward responsivity correlated with manic symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Distinct psychological mechanisms contribute to depressive and manic episodes in bipolar disorder.
- Cognitive vulnerability for depression is present even in euthymic states, suggesting a persistent trait.
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