Increases in manic symptoms after life events involving goal attainment.
Bipolar disorder has been conceptualized as an outcome of dysregulation in the behavioral activation system (BAS), a brain system that regulates goal-directed activity. On the basis of the BAS model, the authors hypothesized that life events involving goal attainment would promote manic symptoms in bipolar individuals. The authors followed 43 bipolar I individuals monthly with standardized symptom severity assessments (the Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale). Life events were assessed using the Goal Attainment and Positivity scales of the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. As hypothesized, manic symptoms increased in the 2 months following goal-attainment events, but depressed symptoms were not changed following goal-attainment events. These results are congruent with a series of recent polarity-specific findings.
Johnson
S L
SL
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 249229, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-2070, USA. Sjohnson@miami.edu
Sandrow
D
D
Meyer
B
B
Winters
R
R
Miller
I
I
Solomon
D
D
Keitner
G
G
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012201:Reward