Differentiating risk for mania and borderline personality disorder: The nature of goal regulation and impulsivity

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 227; no. 2; pp. 347 - 352
• Main Authors: Fulford, Daniel, Eisner, Lori R, Johnson, Sheri L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.06.2015
• Subjects: Affective Symptoms - diagnosis; Affective Symptoms - epidemiology; Affective Symptoms - psychology; Approach/avoidance motivation; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - diagnosis; Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Borderline personality disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Borderline Personality Disorder - epidemiology; Borderline Personality Disorder - psychology; Comorbidity; Female; Goal regulation; Goals; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Impulsivity; Male; Mood Disorders - diagnosis; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Mood Disorders - psychology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Reward; Risk; Risk Factors; Bipolar disorder; Impulsivity; Goal regulation; Borderline personality disorder; Approach/avoidance motivation
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.02.001

Abstract Researchers and clinicians have long noted the overlap among features and high comorbidity of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. The shared features of impulsivity and labile mood in both disorders make them challenging to distinguish. We tested the hypothesis that variables related to goal dysregulation would be uniquely related to risk for mania, while emotion-relevant impulsivity would be related to risk for both disorders. We administered a broad range of measures related to goal regulation traits and impulsivity to 214 undergraduates. Findings confirmed that risk for mania, but not for borderline personality disorder, was related to higher sensitivity to reward and intense pursuit of goals. In contrast, borderline personality disorder symptoms related more strongly than did mania risk with threat sensitivity and with impulsivity in the context of negative affect. Results highlight potential differences and commonalities in mania risk versus borderline personality disorder risk.