A 3-Year longitudinal study of risk for bipolar spectrum psychopathology

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Molly Armistead Walsh (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Thomas R. Kwapil

Abstract: Current clinical and epidemiological research provides support for a continuum of bipolar psychopathology: a bipolar spectrum that ranges from subthreshold characteristics to clinical disorders. The present research examined the predictive validity of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology in a nonclinically ascertained sample of young adults at a 3-year follow-up assessment. Thus far, 100 of the original 145 participants have been re-interviewed for bipolar psychopathology, borderline and schizotypal personality disorder symptoms, substance use, treatment history, family history, and psychosocial functioning. At the original assessment, 15 of the 100 participants met criteria for a bipolar spectrum disorder. At the follow-up assessment, an additional 13 had developed bipolar spectrum disorders. A total of 26% of participants met criteria for bipolar spectrum disorders at the follow-up, including 10% with DSM-IV-TR disorders. The HPS predicted new cases and total number of cases of bipolar spectrum disorders, as well as total number of DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders at the follow-up assessment. The HPS also predicted current hyperthymic temperament or history of hypomania, grandiose traits, impulsivity, substance use disorders, global impairment, and borderline and schizotypal traits. The majority of these effects were significant after removing participants with DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders from the analyses, suggesting that the results were not driven by a subset of participants with clinical disorders. Contrary to hypotheses, impulsivity did not moderate the predictive validity of the HPS. Overall, these results offer further support for the bipolar spectrum construct and the predictive validity of the HPS as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2013
Keywords
Bipolar disorder, Bipolar spectrum, Hyperthymic temperament, Hypomania, Hypomanic Personality Scale, Impulsivity
Subjects
Manic-depressive illness $z United States $v Longitudinal studies
Hypomania $z United States $v Longitudinal studies
Psychology, Pathological $v Longitudinal studies

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