Assessment and Treatment of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders in Emerging Adulthood: Applying the Behavioral Approach System Hypersensitivity Model

• Emerging adulthood is an age of risk for the onset of bipolar spectrum disorders.
• The BAS hypersensitivity model may aid in the early identification of risk for bipolar disorder.
• Reward sensitivity may inform treatment for bipolar disorder in emerging adults.

Bipolar disorder is associated with a host of negative physical and interpersonal outcomes including suicide. Emerging adulthood is an age of risk for the onset of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) and there has been increased effort to focus on early identification and subsequent intervention for BSDs during this developmental period. Recent research on the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) hypersensitivity model of bipolar disorder may have implications for the assessment and treatment of BSDs in emerging adulthood. We summarize relevant findings on the BAS hypersensitivity model that support the use of reward sensitivity in the early identification of BSDs and suggest evidence-based strategies for clinical work with emerging adults with BSDs.