Steven Marwaha1, Charlotte Price2, Jan Scott3, Scott Weich4, Aimee Cairns5, Jeremy Dale6, Catherine Winsper5, Matthew R Broome7. 1. Mental Health and Wellbeing, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick, CV47AL, UK; Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: s.marwaha@warwick.ac.uk. 2. Operational Research and Management Sciences Group, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK. 3. Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and IOPPN, Kings College, London, UK. 4. Mental Health Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. 5. Mental Health and Wellbeing, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick, CV47AL, UK. 6. Department of Primary Care, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, CV47AL, UK. 7. Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Affective instability (AI) is transdiagnostic, and associated with suicidality and healthcare use. It has rarely been compared between diagnoses or to controls. We investigated: whether AI differs between clinical cases and controls and between diagnoses; how different AI components are correlated; and whether AI is associated with functioning in clinical cases. METHODS: Cases (N = 69) from psychiatric services had a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression or psychosis and were compared to primary care controls (N = 25). Participants completed the affective lability scale (ALS), affective intensity measure (AIM), affective control scale (ACS), scored mood fluctuation rate and the WHO-DAS. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in affective lability between cases and controls and across diagnostic groups (p < 0.001). Compared to controls, cases showed lower affective control (p < 0.05). There were no differences in affective intensity between cases and controls or between diagnostic groups, or in mood fluctuation rate between groups. ALS score (p < 0.001), and total number of medications (p < 0.046), were associated with functioning, independent of diagnosis. LIMITATIONS: The sample size was modest. Cases were not in an acute illness episode and this could bias estimates of group difference towards the null. CONCLUSION: Individuals with mental disorder demonstrate higher levels of affective lability and lower affect control than those without mental disorder. In contrast affective intensity may not be useful in demarcating abnormal affective experience. Independent of diagnosis, affective instability, as measured by affect lability, adversely impacts day-to-day functioning. It could be an important target for clinical intervention.
BACKGROUND: Affective instability (AI) is transdiagnostic, and associated with suicidality and healthcare use. It has rarely been compared between diagnoses or to controls. We investigated: whether AI differs between clinical cases and controls and between diagnoses; how different AI components are correlated; and whether AI is associated with functioning in clinical cases. METHODS: Cases (N = 69) from psychiatric services had a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression or psychosis and were compared to primary care controls (N = 25). Participants completed the affective lability scale (ALS), affective intensity measure (AIM), affective control scale (ACS), scored mood fluctuation rate and the WHO-DAS. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in affective lability between cases and controls and across diagnostic groups (p < 0.001). Compared to controls, cases showed lower affective control (p < 0.05). There were no differences in affective intensity between cases and controls or between diagnostic groups, or in mood fluctuation rate between groups. ALS score (p < 0.001), and total number of medications (p < 0.046), were associated with functioning, independent of diagnosis. LIMITATIONS: The sample size was modest. Cases were not in an acute illness episode and this could bias estimates of group difference towards the null. CONCLUSION: Individuals with mental disorder demonstrate higher levels of affective lability and lower affect control than those without mental disorder. In contrast affective intensity may not be useful in demarcating abnormal affective experience. Independent of diagnosis, affective instability, as measured by affect lability, adversely impacts day-to-day functioning. It could be an important target for clinical intervention.
Authors: Steven Marwaha; Paul M Briley; Amy Perry; Phillip Rankin; Arianna DiFlorio; Nick Craddock; Ian Jones; Matthew Broome; Katherine Gordon-Smith; Lisa Jones Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2019-09-18 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Daniel Zarate; Vasileios Stavropoulos; Michelle Ball; Gabriel de Sena Collier; Nicholas C Jacobson Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2022-06-22 Impact factor: 4.144