Correlates of stress reactivity in patients with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE

The authors examined individual differences in stress reactivity as well as whether features of the illness itself or psychological characteristics differentiate between patients with bipolar disorder who are highly stress reactive and those who are not.

METHOD

They assessed stressors and bipolar episodes in 58 patients with bipolar disorder followed for at least 1 year.

RESULTS

Not only did stress level predict relapse, so did personality variables such as introversion and obsessionality and their interaction with stress. Number of previous episodes of bipolar illness, however, did not affect stress response.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are not consistent with the view that episodes of bipolar disorder become increasingly independent of stressors after initial episodes. However, psychological traits may affect reactivity to stressors.