Loss Aversion and Risk Aversion in Non-Clinical Negative Symptoms and Hypomania

Bibliographic Data

ID15520307
AuthorsFederica Klaus (0000-0002-7197-0632, University of Zurich, corresponding author), Justin Chumbley (0009-0009-4271-2157, University of Zurich), Justin R Chumbley, Erich Seifritz (0000-0002-7311-4426, University of Zurich), Stefan Kaiser (0000-0002-3013-2034, University of Zurich), Matthias N Hartmann-Riemer (0000-0002-4877-5070, University of Zurich), Matthias Hartmann-Riemer
Year2020
Volume11
Pages574131-574131
Publication date2020-09-23
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2020.574131
PMID33173521
OpenAlexW3088525745
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited43

In the field of behavioral decision-making, "loss aversion" is a behavioral phenomenon in which individuals show a higher sensitivity to potential losses than to gains. Conversely, "risk averse" individuals have an enhanced sensitivity/aversion to options with uncertain consequences. Here we examine whether hypomania or negative symptoms predict the degree of these choice biases. We chose to study these two symptom dimensions because they present a common theme across many syndromes with compromised decision-making. In our exploratory study, we employed a non-clinical sample to dissociate the hypomanic from negative symptom dimension regarding choice behavior. We randomly selected a sample of 45 subjects from a student population (18-37 years) without self-reported psychiatric diagnoses (n = 835). We stratified them based on percentiles into a low hypomania/low negative symptoms (n = 15), a hypomania (n = 15), and a negative symptoms group (n = 15) using the hypomanic personality scale (HPS-30) and community assessment of psychic experiences (CAPE). Participants completed a loss aversion task consisting of forced binary choices between a monetary gamble and a riskless choice without gain or loss. We found a reduced loss aversion in participants with higher negative symptoms. In addition, risk aversion was reduced in participants with higher hypomania and negative symptoms compared to low hypomania/negative symptoms. This study adds to the understanding of underlying psychological mechanisms of loss and risk aversion. Given the partially opposing nature of hypomania and negative symptoms, further work is needed to examine whether they affect loss and risk aversion via dissociable mechanisms

Bipolar disorder · Expected utility hypothesis · Hypomania · Loss aversion · Mania · Mood · Psychiatry · Risk aversion (psychology · Bipolar Disorder and Treatment · Clinical Psychology · Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment

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