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Behavioral Approach System (BAS)-Relevant Cognitive Styles in Individuals with High Versus Moderate BAS Sensitivity: A Behavioral High-Risk Design

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Abstract

This study used a behavioral high-risk design to evaluate cognitive styles relevant to the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) among individuals at high (n = 171) versus low (n = 119) risk of first onset of bipolar disorder based on BAS sensitivity, a known risk factor for bipolar disorder. Cognitive styles in high-BAS participants paralleled those implicated in bipolar disorder. Linear regressions indicated that individuals with high BAS sensitivity exhibited greater levels of goal striving, positive overgeneralization, rumination on positive affect, depressive brooding, perfectionism, and hypomanic personality. Furthermore, of the cognitive styles, emotion-focused rumination on positive affect mediated the association between BAS sensitivity and current levels of hypomanic symptoms. These results provide evidence that individuals at risk for the development of bipolar disorder have higher levels of BAS-relevant cognitive styles and hypomanic personality than do individuals with lower risk, indicating that these styles are not simply markers of prior (hypo)manic episodes.

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Notes

  1. Of note, all of these BAS group differences remained statistically significant when controlling for hypomanic symptoms, as well as when controlling for demographic characteristics associated with the cognitive or personality styles.

  2. When HPS was included in the combined mediation analysis with the cognitive styles, it was the only significant mediator of the relationship between BAS risk group and hypomanic symptoms.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH 77908 to Lauren B. Alloy.

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Correspondence to Jonathan P. Stange.

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Stange, J.P., Shapero, B.G., Jager-Hyman, S. et al. Behavioral Approach System (BAS)-Relevant Cognitive Styles in Individuals with High Versus Moderate BAS Sensitivity: A Behavioral High-Risk Design. Cogn Ther Res 37, 139–149 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9443-x

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