Bipolar personality traits
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Bipolar Personality Traits: An Overview
Introduction to Bipolar Personality Traits
Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by significant mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes. Research has shown that individuals with BD exhibit distinct personality traits compared to healthy individuals. Understanding these traits can provide insights into the disorder's progression and potential treatment strategies.
High Neuroticism in Bipolar Disorder
Neuroticism and Mood Episodes
Individuals with bipolar disorder often exhibit high levels of neuroticism, a trait associated with emotional instability and negative emotions. Studies have consistently found that both bipolar I and II patients score higher on neuroticism compared to healthy controls 123. High neuroticism has been linked to an increased risk of depressive episodes and suicide attempts, although this association may be influenced by baseline depressive symptoms 1.
Neuroticism as a Predictor
High neuroticism not only characterizes individuals with BD but also predicts the course of the illness. For instance, during euthymic phases, high neuroticism scores can predict a future depression-prone course 2. This suggests that neuroticism is an enduring trait in BD, influencing the long-term trajectory of the disorder 24.
Low Extraversion and Conscientiousness
Extraversion and Mood States
Bipolar patients typically exhibit lower levels of extraversion, which is associated with sociability and positive emotions. This trait tends to fluctuate with mood states; manic symptoms can temporarily increase extraversion, while depressive symptoms decrease it 23. Despite these fluctuations, low extraversion remains a stable trait in individuals with BD 3.
Conscientiousness and Manic Symptoms
Conscientiousness, particularly the facet of achievement striving, has been found to predict increases in manic symptoms over time 4. This trait, which involves self-discipline and goal-oriented behavior, may exacerbate the intensity of manic episodes in BD patients 4.
Other Personality Traits in Bipolar Disorder
Openness, Agreeableness, and Harm Avoidance
Bipolar disorder is also characterized by high openness and low agreeableness and conscientiousness 2. High openness distinguishes BD from major depressive disorder, indicating a unique personality profile for BD 2. Additionally, bipolar patients score higher on harm avoidance, a trait associated with anxiety and fearfulness, especially when comorbid with anxiety disorders 6.
Temperament and Character Traits
Temperament and character traits, such as novelty seeking, self-transcendence, and self-directedness, also differ in BD patients compared to healthy individuals. Bipolar patients tend to score higher on novelty seeking and self-transcendence but lower on self-directedness and cooperativeness 6. These traits can influence the clinical presentation and outcome of BD, particularly when comorbid with other psychiatric conditions like alcoholism or anxiety disorders 6.
Stability and Changes in Personality Traits
Longitudinal Stability
Research indicates that personality traits in BD are relatively stable over time, with only modest changes observed. Neuroticism shows some association with changes in depression, but other personality traits remain stable regardless of mood fluctuations 3. This stability suggests that personality traits are enduring characteristics in BD patients, rather than being solely state-dependent 3.
Genetic and Familial Influences
Personality traits such as hypomanic, cyclothymic, and hostile traits are elevated in BD patients and their relatives, suggesting a genetic component to these traits 9. These traits follow a distribution where the most pathological scores are found in BD I patients, and the least in unaffected relatives, supporting the idea of a genetic spectrum for these personality characteristics 910.
Conclusion
In summary, individuals with bipolar disorder exhibit distinct personality traits, including high neuroticism, low extraversion, and low conscientiousness. These traits are relatively stable over time and can predict the course of the illness. Understanding these personality profiles can aid in developing targeted treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the genetic underpinnings and the impact of comorbid conditions on these personality traits.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic