STRESSORS AND SOCIOTROPY AUTONOMY - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE COURSE OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

This study tested the association of cognitive vulnerability based on sociotropy-autonomy and congruent negative life events, with onset and severity of symptoms in bipolar patients over a longitudinal course. Forty-nine remitted bipolar patients were followed for all average of 18 months. Onset of symptoms was not associated with a preponderance of stressors that matched the individual's sociotropic-autonomous type. However, symptom severity was significantly associated with sociotropy, interpersonal events, and the interaction of the two-but no such associations were found with autonomy or autonomy/achievement events. Results were discussed in terms of differences between unipolar and bipolar patients' mechanisms for symptom onset, and the role of sociotropy and interpersonal events in symptom experience and expression.