Abstract
BackgroundHypochondriac concerns are associated with the treatment-difficulty of bipolar disorder, which might be due to the personality styles and affective states.MethodsWe invited outpatients with bipolar I disorder (BD I, n = 87), bipolar II disorder (BD II, n = 92) and healthy volunteers (n = 129) to undergo the Illness Attitude Scales and Parker Personality Measure tests, and measurements of concurrent affective states.ResultsCompared to healthy volunteers, BD I and BD II patients scored significantly higher on mania, hypomania and depression. BD I and BD II patients also scored significantly higher on Symptom Effect and Treatment Seeking, and BD II patients scored higher on Patho-thanatophobia and Hypochondriacal Belief. BD II in addition scored higher on Patho-thanatophobia than BD I did. In controls, the Dependent style predicted Patho-thanatophobia and Symptom Effect, Schizoid with Hypochondriacal Belief; in BD I, Narcissistic (−) with Hypochondriacal Belief, Histrionic with Patho-thanatophobia and Hypochondriacal Belief, depression with Hypochondriacal Belief, and hypomania with Symptom Effect and Hypochondriacal Belief; in BD II, depression with Symptom Effect and Hypochondriacal Belief, mania with Symptom Effect.ConclusionsBipolar disorder, especially BD II, is associated with greater hypochondriac concerns, which relates to personality disorder functioning styles and concurrent affective states.
Highlights
Bipolar disorder has two major types, i.e., bipolar I (BD I) and Bipolar II disorder (II) (BD II) disorders
Post-hoc analyses showed that BD I scored significantly higher than controls did on Symptom Effect and Treatment Seeking; BD II scored significantly higher than controls did on Patho-thanatophobia, Symptom Effect, Treatment Seeking and Hypochondriacal Belief
Post-hoc analyses showed that BD I and BD II scored significantly higher than the controls did on most scales
Summary
Bipolar disorder has two major types, i.e., bipolar I (BD I) and II (BD II) disorders Both are devastating and are characterized by recurrent episodes of mania/ hypomania and depression [1], with frequent relapse, lingering residual symptoms, impaired cognition, and diminished wellbeing [2]. The BD II exhibits more serious symptoms [3], more chronicity [4], and more comorbidity with physical illness, anxiety, and personality disorders than BD I [5]. The hypochondriasis is a preoccupation of having or acquiring a serious illness, which is frequently defined as a chronic condition distinctive from affective disorders [7] or is referred as health anxiety disorder [8], illness anxiety disorder, or somatic symptom disorder [9]. Hypochondriac concerns are associated with the treatment-difficulty of bipolar disorder, which might be due to the personality styles and affective states
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
