Academic performance and expectations for the future in relation to a vulnerability marker for bipolar disorders: the hypomanic temperament

Several studies show an association between the Hypomanic Personality Scale (Eckblad & Chapman, 1986) and variables that are related to bipolar disorders. Prior research reports that people with such a temperament tend to provide very high estimates of their own future success regardless of their current performance. Therefore we wanted to know if they differ from others in school performance and predictions of future performance. The participants (n=2562) were students between the age of 14 and 16 years who completed the questionnaire including the Hyp Scale, the CES-D to assess current symptoms of depression, and questions about performance in school and future success. Regression analyses were used to see if the current and expected performance was predicted by the Hyp Scale and current depression symptoms. High scores on the Hyp Scale were not associated with a superior performance in school. The Hyp Scale furthermore was not associated with exaggerating the expected performance in a specific class for the near future. On the other hand, the Hyp Scale was predictive of overly optimistic estimations of the probability of achievements and performances that are heavily delayed in time (e.g. getting the job of their dreams) while the current performance was not. The results are integrated with a more general model of a dysregulation of the Behavioral Activation System, and the limitations of the study are discussed.