Mood fluctuations in people putatively at risk for bipolar disorders.

OBJECTIVES

The dysregulation of the Behavioural Activation System (BAS) is discussed as a vulnerability marker for bipolar disorders, resulting in fluctuations of activity and mood. People putatively at risk for bipolar disorders (BD) should therefore show mood fluctuations.

METHOD

Using the "Hypomanic Personality Scale" (HPS) three groups of young adults with high (N=17), medium (N=19), and low scores (N=18) were selected and completed a 28-day diary including CES-D and PANAS.

RESULTS

People at risk for bipolar disorders exhibited high levels of manic symptoms, positive and negative affect. They also generally reported more mood instability.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the hypothesis that fluctuations of mood and symptoms might be a core characteristic of the hypothesized vulnerability for BD. These fluctuations of mood were, however, not restricted to positive affect as a dysregulation of the BAS would suggest.