TY - JOUR
T1 - Behavioural addictions in bipolar disorder patients: Role of impulsivity and personality dimensions
AU - Di Nicola, Marco
AU - Tedeschi, Daniela
AU - Mazza, Marianna
AU - Martinotti, Giovanni
AU - Harnic, Desiree
AU - Catalano, Valeria
AU - Bruschi, Angelo
AU - Pozzi, Gino
AU - Bria, Pietro
AU - Janiri, Luigi
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Background: Behavioural addictions (BAs) can be understood as disorders characterized by
repetitive occurrence of impulsive and uncontrolled behaviours. Very few studies have
investigated their association with mood disorders. The present study was undertaken to
determine the prevalence of the main behavioural addictions in a sample of bipolar outpatients
in euthymic phase or stabilised by medications and to investigate the role of impulsivity and
temperamental and character dimensions.
Methods: One-hundred-fifty-eight Bipolar Disorder (BD) (DSM-IV) outpatients were assessed
with tests designed to screen the main behavioural addictions: pathological gambling (SOGS),
compulsive shopping (CBS), sexual (SAST), Internet (IAD), work (WART) and physical exercise
(EAI) addictions. TCI-R and BIS-11 were administered to investigate impulsivity and
personality dimensions mainly associated with BAs. The clinical sample has been compared
with 200 matched healthy control subjects.
Results: In bipolar patients, 33% presented at least one BA respect to the 13% of controls.
Significantly higher scores at the scales for pathological gambling (pb.001), compulsive buying
(pb.05), sexual (pb.001) and work addictions (pb.05) have been found. Self-Directness
(p=.007) and Cooperativeness (p=.014) scores were significantly lower while impulsivity
level was significantly higher (p=.007) in bipolar patients with BA than those without BA.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the prevalence of
behavioural addictions in BD showing a significant association of these disorders. BAs are
more frequent in bipolar patients than in healthy controls and are related to higher impulsivity
levels and character immaturity.
AB - Background: Behavioural addictions (BAs) can be understood as disorders characterized by
repetitive occurrence of impulsive and uncontrolled behaviours. Very few studies have
investigated their association with mood disorders. The present study was undertaken to
determine the prevalence of the main behavioural addictions in a sample of bipolar outpatients
in euthymic phase or stabilised by medications and to investigate the role of impulsivity and
temperamental and character dimensions.
Methods: One-hundred-fifty-eight Bipolar Disorder (BD) (DSM-IV) outpatients were assessed
with tests designed to screen the main behavioural addictions: pathological gambling (SOGS),
compulsive shopping (CBS), sexual (SAST), Internet (IAD), work (WART) and physical exercise
(EAI) addictions. TCI-R and BIS-11 were administered to investigate impulsivity and
personality dimensions mainly associated with BAs. The clinical sample has been compared
with 200 matched healthy control subjects.
Results: In bipolar patients, 33% presented at least one BA respect to the 13% of controls.
Significantly higher scores at the scales for pathological gambling (pb.001), compulsive buying
(pb.05), sexual (pb.001) and work addictions (pb.05) have been found. Self-Directness
(p=.007) and Cooperativeness (p=.014) scores were significantly lower while impulsivity
level was significantly higher (p=.007) in bipolar patients with BA than those without BA.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the prevalence of
behavioural addictions in BD showing a significant association of these disorders. BAs are
more frequent in bipolar patients than in healthy controls and are related to higher impulsivity
levels and character immaturity.
KW - Behavioural Addictions
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - Impulsivity
KW - Personality dimensions
KW - Behavioural Addictions
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - Impulsivity
KW - Personality dimensions
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/12740
M3 - Article
SN - 0165-0327
SP - 82
EP - 88
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -