Valuing happiness is associated with bipolar disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Experiencing happiness correlates with better psychological health.
• However, an extreme pursuit of happiness is paradoxically linked to poorer mental health outcomes, including depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the extreme valuing of happiness is a general risk factor for mood disturbances.
• Specifically, to examine its association with the risk for, diagnosis of, and illness course of bipolar disorder (BD).

Main Methods:

• The study assessed the relationship between the extreme valuing of happiness and indicators of bipolar disorder.
• Data were collected across three studies, controlling for current mood symptoms.

Main Results:

• Extreme valuing of happiness was associated with increased risk for developing BD.
• It also correlated with a higher likelihood of a past BD diagnosis and a worse prospective illness course in individuals with BD.

Conclusions:

• The extreme valuing of happiness is associated with and predicts bipolar disorder.
• These findings suggest it is a general risk factor for mood disturbances, highlighting the role of desired emotions in psychological health.