UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 12-1-2013 Examining the Inner Experience of Four Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Using Descriptive Experience Sampling Johanah Kang University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Mental Disorders Commons Repository Citation Kang, Johanah, "Examining the Inner Experience of Four Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Using Descriptive Experience Sampling" (2013). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/5363910 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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EXAMINING THE INNER EXPERIENCE OF FOUR INDIVIDUALS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER USING DESCRIPTIVE EXPERIENCE SAMPLING by Johanah Yoosun Kang Bachelor of Arts in Psychology University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2008 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts – Psychology Department of Psychology College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2013 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend the thesis prepared under our supervision by Johanah Yoosun Kang entitled Examining the Inner Experience of Four Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Using Descriptive Experience Sampling is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts - Psychology Department of Psychology Christopher Heavey, Ph.D., Committee Chair Russell Hurlburt, Ph.D., Committee Member Daniel Allen, Ph.D., Committee Member Jennifer Keene, Ph.D., Graduate College Representative Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the Graduate College December 2013 ABSTRACT Examining the Inner Experience of Four Individuals with Bipolar Disorder Using Descriptive Experience Sampling by Johanah Yoosun Kang Christopher L. Heavey, Ph.D., Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Psychology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mood disorder with diagnostic criteria that provide a description of expected experiences of individuals diagnosed with BD (e.g., elevated mood, sadness, difficulty concentrating). Despite these criteria, the inner experience of these individuals is largely unknown. Understanding the inner experience of individuals diagnosed with BD may prove essential in understanding and treating BD. The present study examined the inner experience of four individuals diagnosed with BD using the Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) method (Hurlburt 1990, 1993, 2011). Results revealed all our participants had clear and prevalent experiences of sensory awareness. They also had difficulties apprehending and conveying clear inner experience; they all seemed to have a deficit of clear experience. Lastly, they all lacked coherent experience of feelings. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not exist in its final form without the instrumental contributions of several individuals. I would like to thank my four participants who volunteered to participate in my project for their collaboration and willingness to share their private moments of inner experience. I would like to express appreciation to my committee chair, Dr. Chris Heavey. Thank you for your dedication, mentorship, and support. I would also like to thank Dr. Russ Hurlburt for your commitment and insights throughout this project. Thank you to my committee members, Drs. Daniel Allen and Jennifer Keene, for your valuable feedback and enthusiasm throughout this project. Thank you to my parents, James and Janet Kang, for your unconditional love and support. Finally, thank you to my sister, Sarayah, and my friend, Nellie for always believing in me. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER ............................................... 4 History of Bipolar Disorder ......................................................................................... 4 Current Definition of Bipolar Disorder ........................................................................ 7 Assessment ................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 3 NATURE OF BIPOLAR DISORDER ..................................................... 11 Epidemiology ............................................................................................................. 11 Natural History and Course ........................................................................................ 13 Etiology ...................................................................................................................... 15 Comorbidity ............................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 4 CONSEQUENCES OF BIPOLAR DISORDER ...................................... 19 Impairments in Social Relationships .......................................................................... 19 Occupational Impairment ........................................................................................... 21 Cognitive Impairment ................................................................................................ 22 Lack of Insight ........................................................................................................... 23 Impulsivity ................................................................................................................. 23 Sleep Disturbance ...................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 5 METHODS OF STUDYING THE EXPERIENCE OF BIPOLAR DISORDER ........................................................................................................ 25 First-Person Accounts ................................................................................................ 25 Interviews ................................................................................................................... 26 Momentary Sampling ................................................................................................. 30 Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) ................................................................... 35 The Present Study ...................................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER 6 METHOD .................................................................................................. 46 Participants ................................................................................................................. 46 Materials ..................................................................................................................... 46 Procedure ................................................................................................................... 47 Analysis of Data ......................................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER 7 IDIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF KATHERINE’S EXPERIENCES . 52 v Progression of DES Skill ........................................................................................... 53 Sensory Awareness .................................................................................................... 58 Emotionally Tinged Experiences and Feelings .......................................................... 63 Perceptual Distortions ................................................................................................ 72 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 75 CHAPTER 8 IDIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL’S EXPERIENCES ........... 77 Overview of Jewel’s Sampling .................................................................................. 78 Sensory Awareness .................................................................................................... 91 Inner Seeing ............................................................................................................... 94 Emotionally Tinged Experiences and Feelings .......................................................... 97 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 99 CHAPTER 9 IDIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF TRENT’S EXPERIENCES ......... 102 Lack of Clarity of Experience .................................................................................