title: Hypomanic personality, stability of self-esteem and response styles to negative mood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to study dysfunctional self-schematic processes, abnormal coping styles, over-responsiveness to reward stimuli (indicative of an over-sensitive behavioural activation system) and stability of self-esteem in relation to subclinical hypomania.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cross-sectional studies were conducted on selected students on the basis of their scores on the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) (study 1) and on elevated HPS and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale scores (studies 2 and 3).
  
  
  METHODS
  In studies 1 and 2, participants completed questionnaires and kept a self-esteem diary for 6 days. In study 3, the experience sampling method was used to assess momentary self-esteem, emotion and use of different coping styles over a 6-day period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1 demonstrated that hypomanic traits are associated with high fluctuations in self-esteem. In study 2, high scores on both the HPS and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, but not the HPS alone, were associated with bipolar spectrum symptoms. These participants showed more evidence of alcohol and substance abuse, greater self-esteem fluctuation and dysfunctional coping styles (rumination and risk-taking) compared with controls. Changes in self-esteem were related to the use of these strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vulnerability to bipolar disorder is associated with a combination of depression-related and reward-related processes.
authors: Department of Mental Health and Well-being, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Richard.Bentall@liverpool.ac.uk
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Bentall
authors: Inez
authors: I
authors: Myin-Germeys
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Smith
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Knowles
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Jones
authors: Talya
authors: T
authors: Smith
authors: Sara J
authors: SJ
authors: Tai
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010551:Personality; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011931:Reactive Inhibition; D012201:Reward; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology