Development and validation of a new multidimensional measure of inspiration: associations with risk for bipolar disorder.

Steven Jones,June Gruber,Alyson Dodd

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091669

Steven Jones, June Gruber + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091669

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Abstract

BackgroundIndividuals at risk for, and diagnosed with, bipolar disorder (BD) appear to have heightened levels of creativity. Although inspiration is creativity, the ways in which individuals appraise and respond emotionally to inspiration in BD remain unexplored.MethodThe present study reports on a new measure of inspiration (External and Internal Sources of Inspiration Scale - EISI). The reliability and validity of EISI were explored along with associations between EISI and BD risk.ResultsAmong a cross-national student sample (N = 708) 5 inspiration factors were derived from EISI (self, other, achievement, prosocial and external inspiration). Reliability, concurrent validity and convergent/divergent validity were good. Total EISI and all subscales were associated with increased positive rumination, and total EISI and the achievement EISI subscale were associated with impulsivity. Total EISI, self and prosocial EISI subscales were independently associated with BD risk and current mania symptoms.ConclusionThis new measure of inspiration is multidimensional, reliable and valid. Findings suggest that self and prosocial focused inspiration are particularly associated with risk for BD after controlling for current manic symptoms. Future studies in clinical populations may illuminate the relationships between inspiration and creativity in BD.

Highlights

Inspiration is increasingly being investigated as a psychological construct encompassing emotional and motivational factors [1]
Total External and Internal Scale of Inspiration (EISI) and all subscales were associated with increased positive rumination, and total EISI and the achievement EISI subscale were associated with impulsivity
An example of the evidence for creativity in bipolar disorder (BD) comes from a study by Richards et al [18] which demonstrated that higher levels of lifetime creative achievements were observed in individuals with BD spectrum disorders and first-degree BD relatives compared with healthy controls

Summary

Introduction

Inspiration is increasingly being investigated as a psychological construct encompassing emotional and motivational factors [1]. It explores the extent to which appraisals of, and emotional responses to, inspiration are associated with risk for bipolar disorder. Research directly exploring the cognitive and emotional substrates of creativity and its relationships with BD is currently lacking. This is despite a robust literature highlighting the unique association between creativity and BD. An example of the evidence for creativity in BD comes from a study by Richards et al [18] which demonstrated that higher levels of lifetime creative achievements (including entrepreneurial, artistic or scientific activity) were observed in individuals with BD spectrum disorders and first-degree BD relatives compared with healthy controls. The ways in which individuals appraise and respond emotionally to inspiration in BD remain unexplored

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