Distinct Aspects of Emotion Dysregulation Differentially Correspond to Magnitude and Slope of the Late Positive Potential to Affective Stimuli

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic risk factor for several forms of psychopathology. One established, integrative conceptualization of ED that has informed our understanding of psychopathology (Gratz & Roemer, 2004) was recently extended to account for state-level and specifically physiological aspects of ED. As such, the goal of the current study was to assess the degree to which this conceptualization could be captured using a physiological, state-level index (i.e., the late positive potential; LPP). Participants (N=41; M(age)=27.5 years, SD=11.0) completed a trait-based rating scale measure of the extended conceptualization of ED and viewed a series of images that ranged in valence (i.e., unpleasant, pleasant, and neutral). Multilevel modeling indicated some points of convergence between rating scale scores and the LPP, and other points of divergence. Findings underscore the utility of a multi-method approach to improve understanding of key transdiagnostic characteristics across levels of analysis. Further, results are novel evidence supporting validity of the extended conceptualization of ED.