Identifier

etd-06132005-182824

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Although bipolar disorder was one of the earliest described mental illnesses, there is a dearth of research on bipolar disorder in individuals with intellectual deficits. The present study aimed to extend this literature by comparing the presence and variation of manic symptoms over time of persons with intellectual deficits with and without bipolar disorder. Three groups of individuals participated: a bipolar group, a psychopathology group (other than bipolar disorder) and a control group. Two dependent measures of mania were taken from retrospective data, Mania subscale of the DASH-II and a Criterion-referenced subscale. The presence and consistency of mania symptom endorsements were analyzed over time and across groups. Results indicated that the bipolar group had greater mean endorsements on the Criterion-referenced subscale than the psychopathology and control groups. Further, manic symptom endorsements were more stable over time in the bipolar group than the other two groups. This pattern of serial correlations was inconsistent with hypotheses. These findings are tempered by the fact that the patterns of serial correlations in comparative anchor subscales were also unanticipated. In order to clarify these unexpected findings, research is needed to examine the accuracy of staff to report the frequency of symptomology.

Date

2005

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Johnny L. Matson

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.364

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