Behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systemlevels, and DSM-5 psychopathological symptoms in Turkish adolescents

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis derived from Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory that psychopathology results from high levels of activity in the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) related to punishment sensitivity and the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) related to reward sensitivity, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) psychological disorders in a sample of Turkish adolescents. This study also draws attention to how the biological orientation of BIS and BAS can help predict psychological disorders. The original contribution of this study is to examine the relationship of BIS and BAS activity to almost all DSM-5 psychopathological disorders. A random sample of 417 students between the ages of 15 and 18 (m=16, 40; sd=1,23) in Istanbul province was surveyed using the Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Scales (BIS/BAS; Carver & White, 1994) and the Inventory of Psychologıcal Disorders For Adolescences (PDIA; Bilge & Kulaksızoğlu, 2017). Pearson correlations of BIS and BAS scores with PDIA Subscales indicated that Attention-Deficit, Depression, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Separation Anxiety, Social Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder (PD) and Dependent PD were significantly correlated with increased BIS activity whereas Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Hyperactivity, Conduct Disorder, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Paranoid PD, Histrionic PD and Narcissistic PD were significantly correlated with increased BAS activity. Some PDIA subscales were related to both BIS and BAS: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Hypersomnolence Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Attack, Borderline PD, Schizotypal PD and Obsessive-Compulsive PD. Regression analysis was applied to determine the extent to which these disorders were predicted by BIS and BAS. The results confirmed that psycholopathology symptoms are related to increases in BAS and BIS activity. The results also confirm Gray’s (1982) finding that high BIS activity levels are associated with anxiety.