Bipolar disorder (BD) is a pervasive condition. Although there have been recent pushes towards greater neurodiversity within organizations, individuals with the disorder still face many social and professional challenges (e.g., unemployment, underemployment) due in part to negative perceptions of individuals with the condition. The causes of these negative evaluations are not understood; stigma is elusive in definition and measurement and the existing trust research has ignored the relationship between BD and trust. Across three experiments using diverse samples, including an established longitudinal cohort study of BD, we identify trust as a core element that governs societal perceptions of individuals with BD. Trust, in turn, is closely tied to perceptions of individual predictability and integrity; active clinical features of BD drive high or low energy states and unpredictable interactions that damage the perceived integrity and thereby trust of the individual with BD. We also examine the effects of both disclosure of a BD diagnosis and the presentation of the symptoms of BD. Disclosure of BD has a significant negative effect on perceived integrity and trust, but the manifestation of manic symptoms undermines the perceived integrity and overall trust towards the person far more than any of the features and perceptions in response to disclosure. Together, these results advance our theoretical and practical understanding of trust by demonstrating how anticipated and observed unpredictability influence trust and by building a foundation for investigating trust of individuals with a common mental illness.
