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Self-discrepancy in students with bipolar disorder II or NOS
Y Alatiq1, C Crane, J M G Williams
1University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. yalatiq@gmail.com
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|December 29, 2009
Summary
Students with a history of hypomania, particularly those without depression, perceived themselves as closer to their feared selves than healthy peers. This suggests the feared-self concept is important for understanding bipolar disorder self-representation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Self-Representation Studies
Background:
- Previous research on bipolar disorder self-representation focused on self-esteem and patient state (episode/remission).
- This study explores multi-dimensional self-aspects (actual-ideal, actual-feared selves) in students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-discrepancies in students with a history of hypomania (with or without depression) compared to healthy controls.
- To examine multi-dimensional aspects of self-representation in bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire (SDQ) with student samples.
- Assessed similarity to and likelihood of ideal-self and feared-self characteristics.
Main Results:
- A trend-level difference was found in ideal-self similarity between groups.
- Students with hypomania (no depression history) showed greater similarity to their feared-self than controls.
- This subgroup also perceived a higher future likelihood of possessing feared-self traits.
Conclusions:
- The feared-self concept appears relevant for understanding self-representation in hypomania without comorbid depression.
- Ideal-self discrepancy was not strongly evident, suggesting it may be a consequence of past episodes rather than a predisposition.
- Further research into the feared-self in bipolar disorder is recommended.
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