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A qualitative exploration of how people with bipolar disorder consider risk-taking in everyday decisions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2020

Andrew Wah ,
Suzanne Hodge ,
Steven H. Jones  and
Guillermo Perez Algorta Open the ORCID record for Guillermo Perez Algorta [Opens in a new window]
Andrew Wah
Affiliation:
Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Suzanne Hodge
Affiliation:
Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Steven H. Jones
Affiliation:
Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Guillermo Perez Algorta*
Affiliation:
Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: g.perezalgorta@lancaster.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background:

Difficulties with decision making and risk taking in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) have been associated with mood episodes. However, there is limited information about these experiences during euthymia, the mood state where people with BD spent the majority of their time.

Aims:

To examine how individuals with BD consider risk in everyday decisions during their euthymic phase.

Method:

We conducted a qualitative study that used semi-structured audio recorded interviews. Eight euthymic participants with confirmed BD were interviewed, and we used interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse the data.

Results:

We identified four themes. The first theme, ‘Who I really am’, involves the relationship between individual identity and risks taken. The second theme, ‘Taking back control of my life’, explored the relationship between risks taken as participants strove to keep control of their lives. The third theme, ‘Fear of the “what ifs”’, represents how the fear of negative consequences from taking risks impacts risk decisions. Finally, the fourth theme, ‘The role of family and friends’, highlights the important role that a supporting network can play in their lives in the context of taking risks.

Conclusions:

The study highlights aspects that can impact on an individual with BD’s consideration of risk during euthymia. Identity, control, fear and support all play a role when a person considers risk in their decision-making process, and they should be taken into consideration when exploring risk with individuals with BD in clinical settings, and inform the design of future interventions.

Keywords

bipolar disorderdecision makingqualitativerisk taking
Type
Main
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , May 2021 , pp. 314 - 327
Copyright
© British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020

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