부산대학교 도서관

Summary: On the basis of the BAS hypersensitivity model, we conducted three studies examining the relationship between both psychological and neurophysiological indices of BAS sensitivity and bipolar course and episodes. Participants were 104 individuals with a bipolar spectrum diagnosis of either cyclothymia or bipolar II disorder, and frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry was recorded on 59 of the participants. In Study 1, high self-reported BAS sensitivity, as indexed by Carver and White's (1994) BIS/BAS scale, was associated with a greater likelihood of (1) converting to a bipolar I diagnosis over a 6.1 year follow-up period, (2) of prospectively developing a new hypomanic episode, and (3) of being in a hypomanic episode at the time of completing the BIS/BAS scale. In Study 2, high relative left frontal EEG activity at rest, a proposed neurophysiological index of BAS sensitivity, was associated with a greater likelihood of converting to a bipolar I diagnosis over the 6.1 year follow-up period, an earlier age of onset of first bipolar diagnosis, and a greater likelihood of being in a hypomanic episode at the time of EEG recording. In Study 3, bipolar individuals in a depressive episode at the time of EEG recording displayed decreased relative left frontal activity during a BAS relevant emotional challenge. Results provide compelling support for the BAS hypersensitivity model. The need for further research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on reward responsivity among bipolar individuals is discussed, and preliminary fMRI results are presented.