Approach goals, behavioural activation and risk of hypomania

This paper reports two studies concerned with approach/avoidance goals and behavioural risk of hypomania. Approach avoidance goals have been considered in relationship to psychopathology previously, but not with respect to hypomania. In study 1, 173 adults completed measures of hypomanic personality, approach/avoidance goals and cognitive style. Approach goals were significantly associated with behavioural risk of hypomania; there was no relationship with either avoidance goals or cognitive style. In study 2, 240 adults completed measures of hypomanic personality, approach/avoidance goals and behavioural activation/inhibition (as a measure of approach/avoidance temperament). Behavioural activation as indexed by BIS/BAS subscale scores on fun seeking and drive were significantly associated with hypomanic personality. There was no unique association with approach goals. Although, approach goals appear to be related to hypomanic personality this relationship disappears when measures of approach temperament are considered in the same analysis. Future research might consider idiographic assessment of goals and evaluation of these relationships in a clinical population.