The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation in BIS/BAS Sensitivities, Depression, and Anxiety Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China

Locus of Control as a Mediator of the Relationships Between Motivational Systems and Trait Anxiety

The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, first proposed by Gray and later revised, describes three motivational systems: Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), Behavioral Activation System (BAS), and Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS). Studies have shown that high BIS and FFFS activation are positively related to anxiety symptoms, yet the relationship between BAS and anxiety remains unclear. Research data have also suggested that anxiety symptoms occur with the loss of perceived control. Thus, although studies on the direct effect of locus of control (LOC) on trait anxiety have accumulated for many years, the issue of how LOC may mediate the relationship between BIS/BAS/FFFS sensitivity and anxiety has not been addressed. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of LOC orientation on trait anxiety among young adults in association with these three motivational systems. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 422 volunteers. The BIS/BAS Scale, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rotter's Internal-External LOC Scale were applied. A series of mediation analyses were performed to estimate total, indirect, and direct effects. The results showed that BIS and FFFS positively predicted trait anxiety. In addition, LOC positively predicted trait anxiety and BIS. The results of the mediation analyses indicated that LOC functioned as a partial mediator between BIS and trait anxiety. This finding revealed that a high BIS level, one of the motivational systems, was associated with external LOC, which in turn contributed to reporting high trait anxiety in young adults. Hence, BIS and external LOC orientation could be suggested as risk factors for trait anxiety. As the external LOC orientation of individuals with high punishment sensitivity increased, their trait anxiety levels also increased. Therefore, it was suggested that it might be useful to be aware that LOC orientations of individuals with BIS sensitivity may pose a risk for trait anxiety.

A machine-learning approach to model risk and protective factors of vulnerability to depression

There are multiple risk and protective factors for depression. The association between these factors with vulnerability to depression is unclear. Such knowledge is an important insight into assessing risk for developing depression for precision interventions. Based on the behavioral data of 496 participants (all unmarried and not cohabiting, with a college education level or above), we applied machine-learning approaches to model risk and protective factors in estimating depression and its symptoms. Then, we employed Random Forest to identify important factors which were then used to differentiate participants who had high risk of depression from those who had low risk. Results revealed that risk and protective factors could significantly estimate depression and depressive symptoms. Feature selection revealed four key factors including three risk factors (brooding, perceived loneliness, and perceived stress) and one protective factor (resilience). The classification model built by the four factors achieved an ROC-AUC score of 75.50% to classify the high- and low-risk groups, which was comparable to the classification performance based on all risk and protective factors (ROC-AUC = 77.83%). Based on the selected four factors, we generated a mood vulnerability index useful for identifying people's risk for depression. Our findings provide potential clinical insights for developing quick screening tools for mood disorders and potential targets for intervention programs designed to improve depressive symptoms.

Prevalence and associated factors of common mental disorders among internally displaced people by armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique: a cross-sectional community-based study

Background

Humanitarian emergencies are a major global health challenge with the potential to have a profound impact on people's mental and psychological health. Displacement is a traumatic event that disrupts families and affects physical and psychological health at all ages. A person may endure or witness a traumatic incident, such as being exposed to war, and, as a result, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is a lack of information about post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder in low and middle-income countries in humanitarian emergency contexts such as Mozambique. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and associated factors among armed conflict survivors in Cabo Delgado, north region of Mozambique in 2023.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2023 among 750 participants, who were selected by convenience. A face-to-face interview used the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PC-PTSD-5) to evaluate PTSD, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) to evaluate anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire - Mozambique (PHQ-9 MZ) to evaluate depression. The association between PTSD and demographic and psychosocial characteristics was analyzed using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression. We used a 5% significance level.

Results

The three mental disorders assessed were highly prevalent in our sample with 74.3% PTSD, 63.8% depression, and 40.0% anxiety. The chance of developing PTSD was higher in females (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.50-3.51), in patients with depression symptoms (AOR = 8.27, 95% CI = 4.97-13.74) and anxiety symptoms (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.84-2.50).

Conclusion

This study reported that the prevalence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety were high. Patients having depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and being female are more at risk of developing PTSD. There is a need to integrate screening for common mental disorders in the context of humanitarian emergencies and its adapted integration of psychosocial interventions.

Temperament Based Personality Types in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Latent Profile Analysis

Three adaptive trait-based personality types have been replicated across ages, cultures, clinical problems and clustering methods: Resilient, Undercontrolled and Overcontrolled type (RUO). Recently there is growing interest in and importance of biopsychosocial transdiagnostic factors underlying personality types, such as temperamental reactivity and self-regulation. Latter can be understood in terms of Behavioural Inhibition (BIS), Behavioural Activation Systems (BAS) and Effortful Control (EC). The occurrence of temperament based RUO types has not yet been confirmed in older adults with or without a mental disorder. Therefore, based on a person-centered approach, the current study investigates whether RUO types can be corroborated in older adults based on the aforementioned temperamental factors. Latent profile analysis yielded two distinct personality profiles in community-dwelling over-60s, which we tentatively labeled a resilient (n = 167) and overcontrolled/inhibited type (n = 241). Compared to the resilient type, the overcontrolled/inhibited type scored lower on EC and higher on BIS. We could not corroborate an undercontrolled type (profiles scored equally on BAS). Group comparisons revealed that overcontrolled/inhibited older adults demonstrated significantly more clinical symptoms, higher emotional instability, lower scores on adaptive traits, less resilience and were significantly more likely to use passive and avoidant coping styles, compared to resilient older adults.

Non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation mediates the relationship between disease uncertainty and acute stress disorder in patients with ischaemic stroke

Background

During epidemic outbreaks, hospitalized patients, especially those with cerebrovascular disease, were identified as a vulnerable group suffering from acute stress disorder (ASD) and consequent psychological distress. For stroke patients, not only will they suffer from physical illness, but the uncertainty of illness caused by sudden illness may also cause patients to experience different degrees of ASD. Relevant studies have shown that the impact of ASD on individuals may vary according to age, gender, disease characteristics, individual personality, treatment methods, income level, family support, cognitive psychology and other factors. However, non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation plays a crucial role in influencing individual psychological states. At present, the risk factors of ASD after stroke and the mechanism between illness uncertainty and cognitive emotion regulation are not fully understood. Therefore, we focus on exploring the predictive effects of general demographic and disease-related characteristics, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, and illness uncertainty on ASD after stroke, and make hypotheses. When a disease acts on the body, the patient will have the corresponding cognition of the disease, and ASD will appear at the same time. Then the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation as an important mediating variable can aggravate the level of acute stress disorder and be verified.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional design, which can be used to investigate the distribution of a disease or health condition and its related factors in a specific population at a specific time, so as to describe the distribution of the disease or health condition and its relationship with related factors. A total of 256 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 145 males and 111 females, aged from 26 to 90 years, with a mean age of (64.71 ± 12.20) years. All patients completed and returned a self-report questionnaire that included demographic information, illness uncertainty, cognitive emotion regulation, and ASD. We then compared the differences in general demographic data, illness uncertainty, and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation in acute stress disorders.

Results

The majority of hospitalized stroke patients (67.6%) developed ASD due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were therefore at risk for PTSD. More than one third (39.1%) of stroke survivors also suffered from severe psychological distress. More specifically, younger stroke patients are more likely to experience ASD than older patients. Although higher illness uncertainty scores indicate more severe ASD, adaptive cognitive emotion regulation was a protective factor.

Conclusion

Given that individuals with ASD are susceptible to PTSD, it is critical to follow up hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke for screening for PTSD and referral to appropriate psychological services. Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation can increase the impact of uncertainty on the traumatic experience of stroke patients. Therefore, health care institutions should increase their efforts to provide psychosocial support services to hospitalized patients and make continuous efforts to screen for symptoms of trauma and psychological distress in hospitalized stroke patients.

The Relationship Between Mental health, Metacognition, and Emotion Regulation in Older People

OBJECTIVES

It is unclear if using emotion regulation strategies can help manage the effects of anxiety and depression on metacognitive strategies in older people. This study aimed to verify the effect of emotion regulation in the interaction between mental disorders and metacognition.

METHODS

A mediation analysis was performed to assess the role of emotion regulation in the interaction between mental disorders and metacognition in older people.

RESULTS

Without mediator control, higher scores indicating mental disorder are associated with reduced metacognition scores. When mediators are added to the model, the mediation effect was significant. An indirect effect of anxiety and depression on metacognition was mediated by cognitive reappraisal to a greater extent than emotional suppression.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive reappraisal reduced the impact of anxiety and depression on metacognition in older adults.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Including cognitive reappraisal techniques in anxiety and depression intervention plans can be beneficial for improving older people's metacognition functioning.

The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between self-concealment and quality of life among breast cancer chemotherapy patients

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore whether self-concealment (SC) affects the quality of life (QOL), and whether cognitive emotion regulation (CER) mediates the relationship between SC and QOL among breast cancer chemotherapy patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 228 breast cancer chemotherapy patients from November 2021 to March 2022 in Anhui Province, China. Data were collected using the Self-Concealment Scale, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Short Form 36 Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, independent-sample t test, one-way analysis of variance, and structural equation modeling were used to explore associations among SC, CER, and QOL.

RESULTS

QOL levels differed significantly by participant age, monthly per capita household income and home location. SC was negatively correlated with QOL. SSC was negatively correlated with adaptive-CER strategies and positively correlated with maladaptive-CER strategies. Adaptive-CER strategies were positively correlated with QOL. Maladaptive-CER strategies were negatively correlated with QOL. CER fully mediated the association between SC and QOL in breast cancer chemotherapy patients.

CONCLUSION

Nursing staff should help breast cancer chemotherapy patients reduce the use of maladaptive-CER strategies in the care of patients in the future. Helping patients reduce SC is more conductive to improving the QOL of breast cancer chemotherapy patients.

Two subtypes of compulsive sexual behavior disorder

Models explaining addictive behaviors such as the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model emphasize the importance of reinforcement mechanisms for developing and maintaining these behaviors, including compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) as well as personal characteristics as vulnerability factors. This study aimed to determine whether there are CSBD subtypes distinguished by reinforcement sensitivity. We hypothesize that one subtype is sensitive to positive reinforcement (C+subtype) and one is sensitive to negative reinforcement (Ȼ-subtype). We calculated a cluster analysis with data from 62 patients with CSBD and tested differences between the identified clusters by t-test. The sample consisted only of men. Cluster variables were: the sensitivity to the Behavioral Inhibition and Approach System (BIS/BAS), the severity of depressive symptoms (BDI-II), the severity of Trait Anxiety (STAI-T), Sexual Sensation Seeking (SSSS), Thrill- and Adventure-Seeking (SSS-V subscale), Disinhibition (SSS-V subscale), Experience Seeking (SSS-V subscale), and Boredom Susceptibility (SSS-V subscale). Between-cluster differences were analyzed for Trait Sexual Motivation (TSMQ) and Sexual Compulsivity (SCS). The results showed a two-cluster solution with cluster 1 representing patients sensitive to negative reinforcement (Ȼ-subtype) and cluster 2 representing patients sensitive to positive reinforcement (C+subtype). No significant difference in symptom severity of Sexual Compulsivity between clusters was found. Cluster 2 showed higher Importance of Sex and a higher motivation to seek sexual encounters than cluster 2. We found a two-cluster solution regarding reinforcement sensitivity in patients with CSBD. This may have clinical implications regarding individual therapy by focusing on the underlying maintenance mechanisms.

The Association between Physical Activity and Anxiety in Aging: A Comparative Analysis

(1) Background: As the worldwide aging population is growing, there is a need to embrace the role of physical activity in the anxiety of older people. Objectives: To analyze anxiety in older people practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activity; (2) Methods: ample composed of 690 older people of both genders, unselected volunteers, residing in Brazil, present (as participants or observers) in selected street races in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 30 October 2019, and 12 March 2020. An instrument composed of the sociodemographic questionnaire and questions from the Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI, and the Physical Activity Inventory for older people, Baecke-Old. Design: Ex-post-facto observational analytical descriptive research; (3) Results: The average age of the sample was in the range of 65 to 69y, 74% female, 94% completed high school, 69% living with the family, 84% practicing physical activity. Anxiety levels were 26% (without), 35% (mild), 21% (moderate), and 18% (severe). The comparison of anxiety showed a difference between the groups of active and sedentary elderly. Logistic regression analysis considering anxiety (yes or no; dichotomous variable) and physical activity (yes or no; dichotomous variable) and Odds Ratio were performed to identify possible influences of the independent variables PA, gender, marital status, and education on anxiety. Only physical activity was associated with anxiety. (4) Conclusions: The sample data of this research point to the conclusion that physical activity influences anxiety levels with 98% certainty, and it is suggested that it be enriched in the future with different studies with different designs. The older people practitioners of physical activity with a high level of education presented as 26% without, 35% mild, 21% moderate, and 18% severe anxiety. More active individuals are less likely to develop anxiety.

Dysfunctional Metacognitive Beliefs, Experiential Avoidance,and Behavioral Inhibition System in Depressive Disorder

Background

Dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs form the basis of the formation and maintenance of psychopathologies. In our study, we planned to examine the common aspects of the concepts of dysfunctional metacognition, experiential avoidance, and behavioral inhibition system in depressed patients compared to healthy individuals and their effects on each other.

Methods

Fifty-five depressed patients and as a control group 54 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Metacognitions Questionnaire 30, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, and Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Scale were used in the study.

Results

Median (minimum-maximum) Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II score was 9 (7-35) points in the control group and 30 (9-46) points in the depressed patient group (P < .001). A statistically significant difference between the groups was observed only in the Behavioral Activation Scale-reward responsiveness subscale, with 20 (14-30) points in the control group and 23 (13-36) points in the patient group. A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in all Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 subscale scores (P < .001). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between depression scores and experiential avoidance (r = 0.751; P < .001), reward responsiveness (r = 0.329; P < .001) and metacognition subscale scores. In addition, a positive correlation was found between experiential avoidance and metacognition subscale scores (P < .001).

Conclusion

The data we obtained support the fact that as the severity of depression increases, the patients more strongly stick to dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, exert more frequently experiential avoidance and less often impulsive behaviors. Considering these clinical features may contribute favorably to the individualized psychotherapy process.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among adult war survivors in Northwest Ethiopia: Community-based, cross-sectional study

Background

A person may endure or witness a traumatic incident, such as being exposed to war, and, as a result, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is a lack of information about post-traumatic stress disorder in low and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. However, armed conflict, abuse of human rights, and violence motivated by race are becoming more commonplace. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD and associated factors among war survivors in Nefas Meewcha Town, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, 2022.

Methods

A community based cross-sectional study was carried out. 812 study participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling process. A face-to-face interview used a post-traumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5) to evaluate PTSD. The association between PTSD and other demographic and psychosocial characteristics was investigated using bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. A P-value of 0.05 was declared as statistical significance.

Result

The prevalence of PTSD in this study was 40.8% with a 95% CI of 36.2 to 46.7. The likelihood of developing PTSD was significantly associated with the fallowing factors. A close family member killed or seriously injured (AOR = 4.53, 95% CI = 3.25-6.46), being female (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.3-3.0), moderate (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.52-4.68) and high perceived stress (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI = 3.47-8.26), depression symptoms (AOR = 4.92, 95% CI = 3.57-6.86), anxiety disorder symptoms (AOR = 5.24, 95% CI = 3.72-7.63), a chronic medical illness (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.52-5.41), physical assault (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.05-3.72) and being in a war fighting situation (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.21-3.14).

Conclusion

This study reported that the prevalence of PTSD was high. Being female, having a previous history of chronic medical illness, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, history of a family member or friend was injured or killed, poor social support, high perceived stress, physical assault, and being in a war fighting situation were statistically associated with PTSD. Hence, regular patient assessment by mental health organizations for those with a history of trauma and facilitation of ways to support such residents is highly recommended.

Motivational mediation between coping and post-traumatic growth in previously bullied college students

Research has consistently shown that experiences of peer victimization may have long lasting negative consequences on health and academic achievement. Less attention has been paid to the association between past bullying and post-traumatic growth in college students. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the role of different motivational orientations (The Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Systems (BIS/BAS) and regulatory focus) as potential mediators between cognitive strategies (rumination and resilient coping) and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Using a large sample of 1,134 college students, 85 were selected who were in their first year of college and had reported having previously experienced bullying. After classifying the participants acording to their the 33rd and 66th percentile scores on post-traumatic growth, a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant differences between the low and high groups, with those highest in PTG showing the highest scores on drive approach, focus on promotion, and resilient coping. Conditional process analysis with these significant variables revealed that regulatory focus on promotion mediates between resilient coping and post-traumatic growth, whereas drive moderates the link between both variables. The findings shed light on the motivational mechanisms underlying PTG, which may be useful to guide interventions to prevent the consequences of bullying.

Emotion regulation strategies and difficulties in older adults: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the types of emotion regulation (ER) strategies used and difficulties in emotion regulation experienced by older adults, within the theoretical frameworks proposed by Gross, and by Gratz and Roemer, respectively.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using principal electronic scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). The systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

The final number of articles included was 44. Older adults reported a higher use of adaptive ER strategies, as well as fewer difficulties in ER, compared with younger adults. Findings from this review also suggest that the use of maladaptive ER strategies can also expose older adults to psychological distress, and may affect their adaptation to negative disease-related outcomes more common in later life.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults generally showed a greater emotional control compared with younger subjects. Adaptive control strategies, rather than maladaptive control strategies, were correlated with more positive outcomes for psychological distress and adaptation to chronic diseases.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Understanding the nature of ER processes in older adults may contribute to implement tailored interventions aimed at reinforcing adaptive ER processes.

Self-construal and behavioral motivation systems among patients with depression in Indonesia: A hospital-based study

Objective

To validate Indonesian versions of two social/cultural psychological scales: the Self-Construal Scale (SCS) that measures independent and interdependent cultural values, and the Behavioral Inhibition (Avoidance) System and Behavioral Approach System (BIS/BAS) that measures motivation focus. We also explored the cultural background for the rising prevalence of depression in Indonesia.

Design

Case (hospital)–control (population) study.

Setting

Hasanuddin University Hospital (cases) and Makassar city region (controls), Indonesia.

Participants

Participants (N = 369) were 165 patients with depression recruited from a university hospital, and 204 healthy controls without a history of mental disorders recruited from locations within a 30-minute walk from the hospital.

Outcome measures

Depression was diagnosed by psychiatrists with reference to Indonesian mental disorder guidelines (Pedoman Penggolongan dan Diagnosa Gangguan Jiwa edisi 3). Participants’ independent and interdependent cultural values, and neural motivational systems were measured with the SCS and BIS/BAS.

Results

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that our revised 12-item SCS and the 13-item, three-factor BIS/BAS had a good model fit for the Indonesian population. MANCOVA showed that the SCS Independent subscale and the BAS subscales were significantly associated with depression after adjustment for age, sex, religion, education, and occupation.

Conclusion

These findings may guide provision of appropriate treatment for patients based on their social and cultural environment. In addition, this study contributes to understanding underlying reasons for the increasing prevalence of depression in Indonesia, where society is changing from traditional collectivism to global individualism.

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This was the first study to validate and revised the SCS and BIS/BAS in an Indonesian population.

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This study was the first to explore the link between self-construal, neural motivational systems and depression in Indonesia.

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This study did not draw causal relations between predictors and the outcome because of its cross-sectional nature.

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We used occupation to measure socioeconomic status rather than income to see its linkage with depression and self-construal.

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We did not measure effects of ethnicity, although Indonesia has various ethnic groups with different societies and cultures.

The mediating role of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility in the relationship between behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system and depression in Turkish population

This study aims to examine the relationships between the behavioral inhibition system (BIS)/behavioral activation system (BAS), depression, cognitive flexibility, and alexithymia, and to determine the mediator role of cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in the relationship between BIS/BAS and depression. Data were collected from a community sample, consisting of 1,275 people, 904 women (70.90%) and 371 (29.10%) men, aged 18-65 years. It was detected that the whole variables in this research were interrelated. Additionally, for the mediation analyses, two significant models in which were determined the mediator role of cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in the relationship between the dimensions of BIS-Fear and BAS-Reward and depression were created. Consequently, high BIS-Fear and low BAS-Reward were associated with susceptibility to depression through decreased cognitive flexibility and increased alexithymia. Moreover, it may be possible to identify which subdimensions of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility play a role in the relationship between depression and reward/punishment systems and which of these are risk factors via the models tested in this study. In this way, clinical interventions for the factors that are both associated with depressive symptoms and mediators for depression can be planned and this can help to achieve effective results in the therapy process.

Perceived parental support and college students' depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating roles of emotion regulation strategies and resilience

The current study examined the mediating roles of emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and resilience in the relationship between perceived parental support and depressive symptoms among college students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A large sample of Chinese college students (N = 2, 423) participated in this investigation. Results indicated that perceived parental support was negatively related to depressive symptoms. The two emotion regulation strategies and resilience partially and serially mediated the relation between perceived parental support and depressive symptoms. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Measuring Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation in Older Adults: Construct Validity of the Dutch BIS/BAS Scales

Research on the validity of the behavioral inhibition system/behavioral approach system (BIS/BAS) scales focused on adolescent, student and adult populations. This study is the first to examine the psychometric properties of the BIS/BAS scales in a community (n = 368) and a clinical sample (n = 160) of older adults. Exploratory structural equation modelling with target rotation to the Carver and White model supported the construct validity of the BIS/BAS scales. Internal consistencies of the scales were generally satisfactory. Female participants scored higher on BIS and BAS-Reward Responsiveness compared with males. The community-dwelling sample scored higher on BAS-Drive and BAS-Reward Responsiveness compared with the clinical sample. Concerning the nomological net, BIS was positively related to Anxiety, Depression, maladaptive coping strategies, Neuroticism and Cluster C personality disorders. BAS was positively related to Openness, Extraversion, Active Confronting and Cluster B personality disorders and negatively related to the schizoid personality disorder. The BIS/BAS Scales are a useful instrument for measuring Gray's theory of personality in older adults.