STYLES OF REGULATION IN THE BIPOLAR SPECTRUM

Styles of regulation were assessed with the Serial Color-Word Test in a group of 35 compensated DSM-III-R bipolar patients (Bipolar) and in 3 control groups: Major Depression (n=35), Schizophrenia (n=50), and s elf-rated Personality Disorder (n=40). On several measures of nonlinea r change (V), patients in the Bipolar group had mean scores between th ose of the Personality Disorder and the Schizophrenic groups, and over lapped with those of the Major Depression group. Patients in the Bipol ar group with clearcut temperaments (hyperthymic or depressive) were s ignificantly more dissociative and less stabilized than other patients in the same group. A further group of nonclinical subjects with hyper thymic temperament (n=20) was significantly more dissociative than the Personality Disorder group.