This study aimed to explore how emotional imagery and its appraisals relate to mood instability and behavior in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). It compared patients with BD, unipolar depression, and creative imagery-prone individuals, assessing their emotional imagery through the Dutch Imagery Survey (DImS). The study found that imagery appraisals, rather than imagery quality, differentiated between the patient and non-patient groups. Imagery was universally perceived as an emotional amplifier across all groups. This effect was most pronounced in individuals currently manic or depressed in the BD group.

Further analysis revealed that only the BD group experienced a significant effect of imagery on behavior. In patients who were manic or depressed with BD, imagery not only amplified emotions but also influenced behavioral tendencies. These findings suggest that while imagery amplifies emotion in all groups, the impact on behavior is unique to those with bipolar disorder. The study concludes that appraisals of imagery, in addition to its quality, are key differentiators between people with and without mood disorders, especially in the context of BD.

Reference: van den Berg KC, Voncken M, Hendrickson AT, et al. Exploring aspects of self-reported emotional mental imagery in patients with bipolar disorder. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2023 Dec;81:101861. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101861. Epub 2023 May 8. PMID: 37182427.