Detailed analysis of risk-taking in association with impulsivity and aggression in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder type I

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the associations of risk-taking, aggression, and impulsivity as well as risk adjustment in bipolar I patients (BD-I). 50 BD-I patients and age- and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were compared by using a modified Balloon Analogue Risk Task (m-BART) , Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11(BIS-11), and Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). BD-I performed worse than HC in terms of risk-taking measures. However, the risk adjustment pattern in the BD-I group was similar to HC. BIS-11 scores were positively correlated with risk-taking after unsuccessful trials. The BPAQ scores were positively correlated with the number of exploded balloons and the maximum number of pumps while negatively correlated with reaction time. This study supported risk-taking as a robust feature of BD-I. These results may reflect that higher risk-taking may be due to impulsivity and also aggression may be associated with undesired outcomes of risk-taking. However, decision-making/adjustment abilities seem to be preserved.