Thomas Kwapil received grant funding from the American Psychological Foundation

The title of Tom's project is "Exploring Individual Differences in the Affective Dynamics of Bipolar Spectrum Psychopathology". Research suggests that there is a continuum of bipolar psychopathology that ranges from subclinical manifestations to clinical disorders. Emotion dysregulation is a core feature of bipolar psychopathology and may confer risk for poor outcomes or progression along the bipolar spectrum. However, previous research examining emotions and bipolar psychopathology has primarily relied on examining emotional intensity in the laboratory or been based on characterizing distinct mood episodes. This study examines emotions using modern methods and theories that highlight the importance of understanding dynamics across time.