A Review and Synthesis of Positive Emotion and Reward Disturbance in Bipolar Disorder

Although positive emotion research has begun to flourish, the extremes and potential costs of positive emotion remain understudied. This is an ideal clinical model for studying the ways in which positive emotions are disrupted in bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme bouts of expansive and persistent positive feelings. This paper reviews recent experimental studies, selectively examining positive emotion, in individuals at risk for, and diagnosed with, bipolar disorder. As an extension of this body of work, I present an account of positive emotion disturbance in bipolar disorder, referred to as positive emotion persistence. Implications are discussed for the study of bipolar disorder and positive emotion that follow. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: Understand mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder. Identification of positive emotion as an important target foci in bipolar disorder. Application of affective science methods and theory to conceptualize the etiology and maintenance of mood disorders.