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Racing thoughts refer to an acceleration and overproduction of thoughts, which have been associated with manic and mixed episodes. Phenomenology distinguishes ‘crowded’ from ‘racing’ thoughts, associated with mixed depression and mania, respectively. Recent data suggest racing thoughts might also be present in healthy individuals with sub-affective traits and symptoms. We investigated this assumption, with a 34-item self-rating scale, the Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ), and evaluated its reliability, factor structure, and concurrent validity. 197 healthy individuals completed the RCTQ, the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego – autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Altman Self-Rating Mania scale (ASRM), and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution, labeled ‘thought overactivation’, ‘burden of thought overactivation’, and ‘thought overexcitability’. Internal consistency of each of the three subscales of the RCTQ was excellent. The TEMPS-A cyclothymia score was associated with the three factors, suggesting good concurrent validity. The ‘thought activation’ subscale was selectively associated with current elated mood and included items conveying both the notion of increased amount and velocity of thoughts, whereas the ‘burden of thought overactivation’ subscale was associated with current low mood. The ‘thought overexcitability’ subscale included items conveying the notion of distractibility, and was associated with both elated and low mood. Rumination was not a significant predictor of RCTQ subscores. These results suggest that the RCTQ has good psychometric properties. Racing and crowded thoughts, as measured by the RCTQ, are a multi-faceted phenomenon, distinct from rumination, and particularly associated with mood instability even in its milder forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder is associated with a host of negative physical and interpersonal outcomes including suicide. Emerging adulthood is an age of risk for the onset of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) and there has been increased effort to focus on early identification and subsequent intervention for BSDs during this developmental period. Recent research on the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) hypersensitivity model of bipolar disorder may have implications for the assessment and treatment of BSDs in emerging adulthood. We summarize relevant findings on the BAS hypersensitivity model that support the use of reward sensitivity in the early identification of BSDs and suggest evidence-based strategies for clinical work with emerging adults with BSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In addition to the classical syndromes of major depression and bipolar I disorder other syndromes with different epidemiology and natural history are included in the group of mood disorders. The life-time prevalence of major depression comes up to 4 to 19% of the population. In bipolar I disorder, the classical manic-depressive illness, the life-time prevalence is 1% according to narrow definitions, and approximately 5% according to broader definitions. The life-time prevalence of dysthymia was found to be approximately 3–7% of the population, that of cyclothymia appr. 0.5%. There is no reliable statistical information for the prevalence of other types of mood disorders, but it is changing according to definition and methods. Mood disorders are severe and chronic diseases, most of which can be considered as lifelong disorders. There seems to be a constant risk of recurrence of bipolar disorders and major depression over the life-span from 30 to 40 years after onset up to the age of 70 or more. Men have a significantly earlier onset of first-episode mania and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders have a frequent comorbidity, especially with substance abuse disorders, which can have an unfavourable influence on the course of the illness. Patients with mood disorders have a higher risk of death by suicide than healthy people. The mortality of patients with mood disorders, especially depression, is higher than that of the general population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]