Examining the Impact of Emotional Awareness and Anxiety on Impulsivity in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

The goal of this study is to identify psychological factors that are associated with impulsivity, which may better inform the development of future treatments for impulsivity in BD. Specifically, this study aims to examine associations between emotional awareness, anxiety, and impulsivity across the BD spectrum. The interconnections between these areas are likely dynamic and unfold in real time as individuals experience their normal daily lives. These symptoms are complex and may change over the course of a single day. Collecting accurate data cannot be completed through a retrospective laboratory where individuals are expected to recall their states from days or even weeks ago. This poses difficulties for appropriately assessing symptoms. For this study, we use Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs), which allow for more accurate collection of data, as they require participants to report their states at the current time in their normal daily environments.