Understanding the cultural concept of “highly sensitive person” among bipolar patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S514-S514
Author(s):  
M. Ioannou ◽  
M. Dellepiane ◽  
S. Olsson ◽  
S. Steingrimsson
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Cultural Concepts ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Cultural Concepts Of Distress ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Cultural Concept ◽  
Sensitive Person

IntroductionThe concept of “highly sensitive person” is a cultural concept, which has become popular in western societies including Sweden. A highly sensitive person (HSP) is usually described as having hypersensitivity to external stimuli, different cognitive processing and high emotional reactivity. Although the concept lacks diagnostic validity, psychiatric patients may refer to this concept.AimsTo examine the feasibility of the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) and the clinical relevance of cultural concepts of distress among patients with bipolar disorder that report being a HSP.MethodsA case series of three patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder that report HSP. The CFI was conducted with all patients and the applicability of the DSM-5 cultural concepts of distress tested.ResultsIn all three cases, the CFI facilitated the clinical consultation as reported from the patients and in one of the cases also increased the treatment engagement. The HSP-concept could be conceptualized as a cultural syndrome, idiom of distress and as an explanatory model.ConclusionThe CFI and the cultural concepts of distress proved to be useful for understanding the concept of HSP as also they increased the cultural validity of the diagnostic interview. The three cases illustrate the challenges when encountering patients with other cultural references than clinicians. This highlights the necessity to integrate anthropological thinking in our current diagnostic work in order to reduce the “category fallacy” and promote a more person-centered approach in psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Ataques de Nervios

2016 ◽  
pp. 242-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Lewis-Fernández ◽  
Irene López
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Ataque De Nervios ◽  
Cultural Concepts ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
Cultural Concepts Of Distress ◽  
Normative Response ◽  
Severe Psychopathology ◽  
Cultural Concept

Ataque de nervios has been studied for half a century, and is one of the best assessed cultural concepts of distress. Ataques were initially studied in Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban samples by Latino researchers and anthropologists. Research indicates that ataques typically occur immediately after, or within a day of, a significant stressor. The characteristic symptoms of an ataque can be quite dramatic, and include emotional and physical symptoms along with displays of aggression and alterations in consciousness. In addition, 7%–14% of ataques result in suicide attempts. The chapter discusses this cultural concept of distress common among Latinos and shows how its relationship with psychopathology can vary depending upon the context, and can range from a normative response to stress to a marker of severe psychopathology.

scholarly journals Emotional reactivity, functioning, and C-reactive protein alterations in remitted bipolar patients: Clinical relevance of a dimensional approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 788-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroldo A Dargél ◽  
Ophelia Godin ◽  
Bruno Etain ◽  
Vânia Hirakata ◽  
Jean-Michel Azorin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Emotional Dysregulation ◽  
Interquartile Range ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Mood Symptoms ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Objectives: Inter-episode mood instability has increasingly been considered in bipolar disorder. This study aimed to investigate emotional reactivity as a major dimension for better characterizing remitted bipolar patients with subthreshold mood symptoms and functional status. This study also aimed to investigate whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of low-grade inflammation, could be a biological marker of emotional dysregulation in bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Cross-sectional study of 613 subjects who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fourth Edition criteria for BD recruited from the FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise in Bipolar Disorders cohort from 2009 to 2014. All patients had been in remission for at least 3 months before assessment. Patients were classified into three groups according to levels of emotional reactivity. Emotional reactivity was assessed by using the Multidimensional Assessment of Thymic States, and functional status was assessed by the Functioning Assessment Short Test. Clinical characteristics and blood sample were collected from all patients. Results: In total, 415 (68%) patients had abnormal emotional reactivity. Independent of potential confounders, including age, gender and subthreshold mood symptoms, serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patients with emotional hyper-reactivity (median = 4.0 mg/L, interquartile range = 2.7–5.6), and with emotional hypo-reactivity (median = 3.0 mg/L, interquartile range = 1–4) compared with patients with normal emotional reactivity (median = 0.95 mg/L, interquartile range = 0.4–1.9, p < 0.001). Patients with emotional hyper-reactivity showed significant cognitive functioning impairment ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Emotional reactivity appears to be a relevant dimension for better characterizing remitted bipolar patients with subthreshold mood symptoms. Levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein may be an objective marker of emotional dysregulation in BD. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

scholarly journals Individual Differences and Susceptibility to Burnout Syndrome: Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Exhaustion and Disengagement

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Golonka ◽  
Bożena Gulla
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Sensory Processing Sensitivity ◽  
Sensitive Person

The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and occupational burnout. This analysis makes it possible to explore the problem of sensitivity as a predictor of burnout syndrome and to discuss adequate coping strategies in the work environment to improve employee well-being. The sample consists of 516 employees (236 women; Mage = 28.97, SD = 6.62 years). The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS; 27 items) was used to measure sensory processing sensitivity; the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI; 16 items) was used to measure exhaustion and disengagement from work. The analysis of sensitivity is based on the ‘DOES’ model of a highly sensitive person, which includes depth of processing (D), overstimulation (O), emotional reactivity and empathy (E), and sensing the subtle (S). Burnout due to exhaustion and disengagement is analyzed. The factor analysis of the HSPS confirms its three-factor structure. The results indicate significant relationships between sensory processing sensitivity and burnout symptoms. However, the influence of specific aspects of sensitivity on the burnout problem varies: the results indicate that higher emotional reactivity is linked to worse burnout symptoms, but sensing the subtle shows the opposite effect and may be a protective factor against exhaustion. Significant gender differences were observed [F(511,1) = 136.63, p &lt; 0.001; η2 = 0.21]; women revealed a significantly higher level of general sensitivity (Mwomen = 4.66, SD = 0.62) as compared to men (Mmen = 4.01; SD = 0.64). Awareness of one’s high sensory-processing sensitivity and its potential outcomes in the work environment may be essential in order to implement appropriate regulatory strategies. Proactive strategies aimed at reducing prolonged emotional overload may be critical for highly sensitive employees. Recognizing high sensitivity may reduce burnout symptoms and improve well-being at work.

scholarly journals Patients’ adherence to smartphone apps in the management of bipolar disorder: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Camille Patoz ◽  
Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei ◽  
Bruno Pereira ◽  
Olivier Blanc ◽  
Ingrid de Chazeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Digital Or

Abstract Background Despite an increasing number of available mental health apps in the bipolar disorder field, these tools remain scarcely implemented in everyday practice and are quickly discontinued by patients after downloading. The aim of this study is to explore adherence characteristics of bipolar disorder patients to dedicated smartphone interventions in research studies. Methods A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Three databases (EMBASE, PsychInfo and MEDLINE) were searched using the following keywords: "bipolar disorder" or "mood disorder" or “bipolar” combined with “digital” or “mobile” or “phone” or “smartphone” or “mHealth” or “ehealth” or "mobile health" or “app” or “mobile-health”. Results Thirteen articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Of the 118 eligible studies, 39 did not provide adherence characteristics. Among the selected papers, study length, sample size and definition of measures of adherence were strongly heterogeneous. Activity rates ranged from 58 to 91.6%. Conclusion The adherence of bipolar patients to apps is understudied. Standardised measures of adherence should be defined and systematically evaluated in future studies dedicated to these tools.

scholarly journals Response Processes to Looming Appetitive and Aversive Cues in Euthymic Bipolar Patients and Their First-Degree Relatives: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 025371762097528
Author(s):  
Velprashanth Venkatesan ◽  
Christoday R J Khess ◽  
Umesh Shreekantiah ◽  
Nishant Goyal ◽  
K. K. Kshitiz
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sensitivity To Reward ◽  
Bipolar Group ◽  
First Degree Relatives ◽  
Vulnerability Model ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Appetitive Cues ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder demonstrate increased sensitivity to appetitive/rewarding stimuli even during euthymia. On presentation of arousing pictures, they show a peculiar response, suggesting heightened vigilance. While responding to looming arousing cues, studies show subjects with anxiety spectrum disorders exhibit increased reaction time (RT), explained by the “looming-vulnerability model.” This study aimed to investigate the responses to looming arousing cues in euthymic bipolar patients and their first-degree relatives, as compared to healthy controls. Method: A looming appetitive and aversive cue paradigm was designed for assessing the RT of patients to process appetitive and aversive cues. The behavioral inhibition/activation and sensitivity to reward/punishment amongst the groups were also assessed. Results: The bipolar group showed significantly longer RT to process appetitive cues irrespective of the looming condition. Aversive cues elicited significantly longer RT in both the bipolar group and in first-degree relatives, but only when presented with the looming condition. Significant looming bias was elicited in the bipolar group which suggested a particular cognitive style to looming cues. A composite measure of RT along with sensitivity to reward/punishment distinguishes the bipolar group and their first-degree relatives from the healthy controls. Conclusion: The looming vulnerability model may provide important insights for future exploration of cognitive endophenotypes in bipolar disorder.

scholarly journals Biosociality in Online Interactions: Youths’ Positioning of the Highly Sensitive Person Category

Young ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 110330882110158
Author(s):  
Fanny Edenroth-Cato ◽  
Björn Sjöblom
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Discursive Psychology ◽  
Online Forum ◽  
Online Interactions ◽  
Structuralist Theory ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Sensitive Person

This article examines how young people in a Swedish online forum and in blogs engage in discussions of one popularized psychological personality trait, the highly sensitive person (HSP), and how they draw on different positionings in discursive struggles around this category. The material is analysed with concepts from discursive psychology and post-structuralist theory in order to investigate youths’ interactions. The first is a nuanced positioning, from which youths disclose the weaknesses and strengths of being highly sensitive. Some youths become deeply invested in this kind of positioning, hence forming a HSP subjectivity. This can be opposed using contrasting positionings, which objects to norms of biosociality connected to the HSP. Lastly, there are rather distanced and investigative approaches to the HSP category. We conclude that while young people are negotiating the HSP category, they are establishing an epistemological community.

Blood Type and Bipolar Disorder

2002 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 988-988
Author(s):  
Tamas Zonda ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Blood Type ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Type I bipolar patients in Budapest were reported to have type O blood more often and types A and B blood less often than Type II bipolar patients.

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