The development in science and practice of cognitive therapy for psychological disorders has benefited from coherent models that specify the key cognitions that can be targeted in therapy. A scale is required to identify the cognitions that characterize bipolar affective disorder and that may influence the development of mania or hypomania. In this pilot study, 104 items were generated within five theory-driven categories: Self-activation, Response style, Other-positive, Other-negative, and Self-catastrophic. The mean score for all items, and for each category of items, was significantly elevated in a group of individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (n = 22) relative to a group of non-clinical controls (n = 22). An exploratory analysis revealed the items that were significantly elevated in the bipolar group. Theoretical and clinical implications, limitations and plans for future research are discussed.
