The Relationship of Impulsivity and Somatoform Dissociation with Aggression in Euthymic Bipolar Disorder
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Ordu University Faculty of Medicine, Ordu, Türkiye
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Abstract
Background: Although aggression in bipolar disorder (BD) is more common during manic episodes, it may also occur during remission. This study examined the associations of impulsivity and somatoform dissociation with aggression and its subdimensions in euthymic patients with BD.
Methods: The study included 67 patients diagnosed with BD type I according to DSM-5 criteria who had been in a euthymic state for at least two months. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and hierarchical regression analyses. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.
Results: Correlation analyses showed that somatoform dissociation was positively associated with total aggression (r = 0.28, P = .024) and hostility (r = 0.27, P = .025). While total impulsivity was not associated with total aggression, weak positive correlations were found with anger (P = .026). In regression analyses, somatoform dissociation significantly predicted total aggression (β = 0.30, P = .018), verbal aggression (β = 0.33, P = .011), and hostility (β = 0.29, P = .025). Impulsivity was not identified as an independent predictor, whereas somatoform dissociation significantly increased explained variance in hierarchical regression analyses (ΔR² = 0.08, P = .018). Given the exploratory nature of the analyses and the absence of correction for multiple comparisons, these findings should be interpreted cautiously.
Conclusion: In euthymic patients with BD, aggression appears to be more consistently associated with somatoform dissociation than with impulsivity. Dissociative symptoms, particularly in relation to verbal aggression and hostility, may represent clinically relevant domains for further assessment.
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BibTeX
@article{sevindik2026relationship,
title = {{The Relationship of Impulsivity and Somatoform Dissociation with Aggression in Euthymic Bipolar Disorder}},
author = {Muhammet Sevindik and Zehra Akdağ and Safiye Zeynep Tatlı and Emine Yavuz and Şerif Bora Nazlı},
journal = {Psychiatry and clinical psychopharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.65801/pcp.3489},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720784},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Relationship of Impulsivity and Somatoform Dissociation with Aggression in Euthymic Bipolar Disorder
AU - Muhammet Sevindik
AU - Zehra Akdağ
AU - Safiye Zeynep Tatlı
AU - Emine Yavuz
AU - Şerif Bora Nazlı
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Psychiatry and clinical psychopharmacology
DO - 10.65801/pcp.3489
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720784
AB - Background: Although aggression in bipolar disorder (BD) is more common during manic episodes, it may also occur during remission. This study examined the associations of impulsivity and somatoform dissociation with aggression and its subdimensions in euthymic patients with BD. Methods: The study included 67 patients diagnosed with BD type I according to DSM-5 criteria who had been in a euthymic state for at least two months. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and hierarchical regression analyses. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results: Correlation analyses showed that somatoform dissociation was positively associated with total aggression (r = 0.28, P = .024) and hostility (r = 0.27, P = .025). While total impulsivity was not associated with total aggression, weak positive correlations were found with anger (P = .026). In regression analyses, somatoform dissociation significantly predicted total aggression (β = 0.30, P = .018), verbal aggression (β = 0.33, P = .011), and hostility (β = 0.29, P = .025). Impulsivity was not identified as an independent predictor, whereas somatoform dissociation significantly increased explained variance in hierarchical regression analyses (ΔR² = 0.08, P = .018). Given the exploratory nature of the analyses and the absence of correction for multiple comparisons, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Conclusion: In euthymic patients with BD, aggression appears to be more consistently associated with somatoform dissociation than with impulsivity. Dissociative symptoms, particularly in relation to verbal aggression and hostility, may represent clinically relevant domains for further assessment.
SN - 2475-0581
ER -