Broome & Vannucci et al.

Question 1

What is the general focus of the Broome et al. paper?

Answer 1

Mood instability

Question 2

Prevalence of mood instability (general population)?

Answer 2

Reportedly about 13.9%, more frequent in women and younger ppl (16-24)

Question 3

Prevalence of mood instability in clinical populations + what is mood instability linked to?

Answer 3

• Prevalent (40-60%) among depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and OCD
• Strongly linked to increased healthcare use and suicidal ideation (indpendent of other psychiatric factors)

Question 4

What is the clinical significance of mood instability (besides healthcare use)?

Answer 4

Involved in the origins/prognosis of disorders like bipolar disorder, BPD, ADHD, depressive disorders and psychotic disorders

Question 5

How is mood instability linked to long-term outcomes?

Answer 5

Predicts poorer long-term outcomes & involved in the prodromal phases of disorders

Question 6

How is mood instability defined & measured?

Answer 6

There is no clear consensus on the definition and the measurements see wide variations (retrospective questionnaires, prospective assessments, etc.)

Question 7

How does Broome et al., define mood instability?

Answer 7

rapid oscillations (ups and downs) of intense affect with difficulty regulating these oscillations or their behavioral consequences

Question 8

How does Broome et al., recommend mood instability gets measured?

Answer 8

Multidimensionally (intensity + frequency + rapidity + reactivity)

Question 9

Mood instability and cognitive functioning?

Answer 9

Linked with impaired cognitive functioning, particularly affecting attention and cognitive functions (they don’t really mention what cognitive functions… smh)

Question 10

Mood instability neurobiologically?

Answer 10

May involve altered amygdala functioning & connectivity + neural circuits regulating emotional stability

Question 11

Broome et al., intervention recommendations for mood instability?

Answer 11

• Early target as mood stabilization could predict treatment efficacy (e.g., effectiveness of antidepressants predicted by early mood stabilization)
• Prevention of acute episodes, or perhaps even relapse prevention in things like biplar disorder (mood instability predicts worse functioning)

Question 12

General focus of Vannucci et al.?

Answer 12

Experimentally investigates different types of positive mental imagery (elated vs calm) differentially amplify positive moods in individuals with high vs. low hypomanic-like experiences

Question 13

Characteristic of bipolar (in Vannucci) that is associated with significant clinical and functional impairments?

Answer 13

Positive mood amplification (rapid escalation in positive moods)

Question 14

What is hypothesized to be an emotional amplifier for bipolar (vannucci)?

Answer 14

Mental imagery, especially vivid and emotionally compelling ones

Question 15

Task in Vannucci to test their shit?

Answer 15

Participants generated mental imagery based on pictures paired with words indicating either “elated” or “calm” emotional scenarios

Question 16

Main results of Vannucci? (3)

Answer 16

• High hypomanic-like experiences = strong, sustained mood amplification over time, especially in response to elated imagery (mood changes in low hypo exp. plateaued)
• Affect changes in high hypo exp. were most pronounced in active-positive affect clusters (elated emotions associated with high activity/behaviours), specifically in the elated imagery
• Calm imagery induced markedly less amplification in high hypo exp.,

In conclusion: suggestment of sustained mood amplification in reaction to elated imagery, targeted mood amplification (elated) & specificity for elated and potentially protective effects of calm imagery

Question 17

Clinical implications of Vannucci?

Answer 17

• Support for the amplifier hypothesis
• Imagery-based intervetions might modulate hypomanic states by reducing elated imagery