Distinct profiles of behavioral inhibition and activation system sensitivity in unipolar vs. bipolar mood disorders.

Psychiatric outpatients with mood disorders (n=275) and community controls (n=733) completed a measure of Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS) sensitivity; psychiatric outpatients also completed measures of mood symptom severity. All patients scored higher on BIS compared to controls; patients with bipolar disorders scored higher on BAS scales compared to patients with depressive disorders. BIS and BAS demonstrated unique patterns of association with mood symptoms. Results support the clinical utility of the BIS/BAS.