Objective: This study
investigated the profile of emotion dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder (BD) and
compared it to Unipolar Depression, Anxiety, and Healthy control groups. Methods:
148 euthymic patients diagnosed with BD (n = 48), Unipolar Depressive disorder (n = 50), Anxiety disorder (n = 50),
and a Healthy Control (HC) group (n =
48) were evaluated using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).
The DERS yields a total score in addition to scores on six subcomponents
believed to encapsulate the emotion dysregulation construct. Results: Compared
to the healthy control group, all clinical groups (BD, Unipolar Depression, and
Anxiety) reported significantly greater overall difficulties in emotion regulation
(Total DERS) and difficulties specific
to the DERS subcomponent measures: Goals, Impulse, and Strategies. The profile of emotion dysregulation
was virtually identical for the Unipolar Depression and Anxiety groups, with BD
demonstrating emotion regulation difficulties intermediate between controls and
the two clinical groups. Specifically, emotion regulation in the BD group was
significantly less compromised in the domains of acceptance of emotions,
emotional awareness, and emotional clarity compared to the depression and anxiety
groups. Conclusions: Emotion regulation abilities among people with euthymic BD
were significantly less compromised than Unipolar Depression and Anxiety groups
with regards to emotional awareness, acceptance of emotions, and understanding
of emotions. However, emotion regulation abilities pertaining to engagement in
goal directed behaviour, impulse control, and access to emotion regulation strategies
were similarly compromised across all three clinical groups. This profile might
help enrich extant adjunct psychological interventions for BD by enlisting emotion
regulation strategies with the aim of decreasing the relapse rate that
characterises BD.