Trait impulsivity as an endophenotype for bipolar I disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Impulsivity, conceptualized as impairment in planning and poor attentional and inhibitory control, is a key feature of bipolar disorder. Familial risk for bipolar disorder is known to affect inhibitory control but its impact on the attentional and planning dimensions of impulsivity is still unclear.


METHODS
We administered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, version 11 (BIS-11) to 54 euthymic individuals with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder, 57 of their clinically unaffected siblings, and 49 healthy comparison subjects. Groups were compared on the attentional (rapid shifts in attention/impatience with complexity), motor (acting impetuously), and non-planning (absence of weighing upon long-term consequences of actions) subscales of the BIS-11, and on total BIS-11 score. To investigate functional implications of trait impulsivity, total BIS-11 score was examined in relation to current psychosocial functioning and criminal history.


RESULTS
Individuals with bipolar I disorder had elevated scores compared to healthy comparison subjects on BIS-11 total score and all three subscales (p < 0.0001). Unaffected siblings had elevated BIS-11 total score (p = 0.0037), motor (p = 0.0027), and non-planning (p = 0.0379) subscales in comparison to unrelated healthy controls. Total BIS-11 score was negatively associated with global assessment of functioning (GAF) score (β = -0.32, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that impulsivity is sensitive to familial liability for the illness, making it a potential endophenotype for bipolar disorder.
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Lauren E
LE
Lombardo
Carrie E
CE
Bearden
Jennifer
J
Barrett
Margaret S
MS
Brumbaugh
Brian
B
Pittman
Sophia
S
Frangou
David C
DC
Glahn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D058068:Endophenotypes; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires