Traits related to bipolar disorder are associated with an increased post-illumination pupil response

May 29, 2019Psychiatry research

Traits linked to bipolar disorder are associated with a stronger pupil reaction after light exposure

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

An increased post-illumination pupil response (PIPR) was found in individuals with heightened bipolar disorder-related traits, with 61 participants in the study.

Higher sensitivity to light, as indicated by an increased PIPR, is correlated with greater emotional-behavioral traits related to bipolar disorder.
The hypomania scale of the General Behavior Inventory showed a significant association with increased post-blue PIPR.
Both the full hypomania scale and a shortened version ('7 Up') were predicted by PIPR, even after controlling for age, sex, and depressive traits.
These results suggest that light sensitivity may be a risk factor for mood issues in the general population.

AI simplified

Mood states in bipolar disorder appear to be closely linked to changes in sleep and circadian function. It has been suggested that hypersensitivity of the circadian system to light may be a trait vulnerability for bipolar disorder. Healthy persons with emotional-behavioural traits associated with bipolar disorder also appear to exhibit problems with circadian rhythms, which may be associated with individual differences in light sensitivity. This study investigated the melanopsin-driven post-illumination pupil response (PIPR) in relation to emotional-behavioural traits associated with bipolar disorder (measured with the General Behavior Inventory) in a non-clinical group (n = 61). An increased PIPR was associated with increased bipolar disorder-related traits. Specifically, the hypomania scale of the General Behavior Inventory was associated with an increased post-blue PIPR. Further, both the full hypomania and shortened '7 Up' scales were significantly predicted by PIPR, after age, sex and depressive traits were controlled. These findings suggest that increased sensitivity to light may be a risk factor for mood problems in the general population, and support the idea that hypersensitivity to light is a trait vulnerability for, rather than symptom of, bipolar disorder.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Traits related to bipolar disorder are associated with an increased post-illumination pupil response

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief