Cognitive processing in bipolar disorder conceptualized using the Interactive Cognitive Subsystems (ICS) model.
BACKGROUND
There are few theoretical proposals that attempt to account for the variation in affective processing across different affective states of bipolar disorder (BD). The Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS) framework has been recently extended to account for manic states. Within the framework, positive mood state is hypothesized to tap into an implicational level of processing, which is proposed to be more extreme in states of mania.


METHODS
Thirty individuals with BD and 30 individuals with no history of affective disorder were tested in euthymic mood state and then in induced positive mood state using the Question-Answer task to examine the mode of processing of schemas. The task was designed to test whether individuals would detect discrepancies within the prevailing schemas of the sentences.


RESULTS
Although the present study did not support the hypothesis that the groups differ in their ability to detect discrepancies within schemas, we did find that the BD group was significantly more likely than the control group to answer questions that were consistent with the prevailing schemas, both before and after mood induction.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may reflect a general cognitive bias, that individuals with BD have a tendency to operate at a more abstract level of representation. This may leave an individual prone to affective disturbance, although further research is required to replicate this finding.
Lomax
C L
CL
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. c.lomax@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Barnard
P J
PJ
Lam
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012660:Semantics
Br J Clin Psychol. 2004 Sep;43(Pt 3):245-65
15333231
Neuropharmacology. 1978 Jun;17(6):430-1
673161
Bipolar Disord. 2001 Jun;3(3):106-50; discussion 151-3
11465675
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70
3397865
J Affect Disord. 1990 Feb;18(2):113-9
2137468
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Mar;60(3):261-9
12622659
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;60(2):145-52
12578431
Br J Psychiatry. 2006 Aug;189:118-23
16880480
Behav Res Ther. 1999 Jul;37 Suppl 1:S53-77
10402696
J Affect Disord. 2004 Apr;79(1-3):193-9
15023494
Br J Clin Psychol. 1983 Sep;22 (Pt 3):163-71
6626789
J Abnorm Psychol. 1988 Feb;97(1):76-9
3351115
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961 Jun;4:561-71
13688369
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Jun;59(6):530-7
12044195