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Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Jan Scott
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Background: Emotional dysregulation, characterized by high levels of both arousal and intensity of emotional responses, is a core feature of bipolar disorders (BDs). In non clinical populations, the 40 item Affect Intensity Measure (AIM) can be used to assess the different dimensions of emotional reactivity. Methods: We analyzed the factor structure of the AIM in a sample of 310 euthymic patients with BD using Principal Component Analysis and examined associations between AIM sub scale scores and demographic and illness characteristics. Results: The French translation of the AIM demonstrated good reliability. A four factor solution similar to that reported in non clinical samples (Positive Affectivity, Unpeacefulness [lack of Serenity], Negative Reactivity, Negative Intensity), explained 47% of the total variance. Age and gender were associated with Unpeacefulness and Negative reactivity respectively. 'Unpeacefulness' was also positively associated with psychotic symptoms at onset (p=0.0006), but negatively associated with co-morbid substance misuse (p=0.008). Negative Intensity was positively associated with social phobia (p=0.0005). Limitations: We cannot definitively exclude a lack of statistical power to classify all AIM items. Euthymia was carefully defined, but a degree of 'contamination' of the self-reported levels of emotion reactivity may occur because of subsyndromal BD symptoms. It was not feasible to control for the possible impact of on-going treatments. Conclusions: The AIM scale appears to be a useful measure of emotional reactivity and intensity in a clinical sample of patients with BD, suggesting it can be used in addition to other markers of BD characteristics and sub-types. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Author(s): Mathieu F, Etain B, Daban C, Raymond R, Raust A, Cochet B, Gard S, M'Bailara K, Desage A, Kahn JP, Wajsbrot-Elgrabli O, Cohen RF, Azorin JM, Leboyer M, Bellivier F, Scott J, Henry C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
Year: 2014
Volume: 157
Pages: 8-13
Print publication date: 01/03/2014
ISSN (print): 0165-0327
ISSN (electronic):
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.12.039
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