Journal article
The HCL-32: towards a self-assessment tool for hypomanic symptoms in outpatients.
- Angst J Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, P.O. Box 1931, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. jangst@bli.unizh.ch
- Adolfsson R
- Benazzi F
- Gamma A
- Hantouche E
- Meyer TD
- Skeppar P
- Vieta E
- Scott J
- 2005-08-30
Published in:
- Journal of affective disorders. - 2005
Ambulatory Care
Bipolar Disorder
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Female
Humans
Italy
Language
Male
Middle Aged
Self-Assessment
Sensitivity and Specificity
Surveys and Questionnaires
Sweden
English
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorders (BP) are frequently diagnosed and treated as pure depression initially; accurate diagnosis often being delayed by 8 to 10 years. In prospective studies, the presence of hypomanic symptoms in adolescence is strongly predictive of later bipolar disorders. As such, an instrument for self-assessment of hypomanic symptoms might increase the detection of suspected and of manifest, but under-treated, cases of bipolar disorders.
METHODS
The multi-lingual hypomania checklist (HCL-32) has been developed and is being tested internationally. This preliminary paper reports the performance of the scale in distinguishing individuals with BP (N=266) from those with major depressive disorder (MDD; N=160). The samples were adult psychiatry patients recruited in Italy (N=186) and Sweden (N=240).
RESULTS
The samples reported similar clinical profiles and the structure for the HCL-32 demonstrated two main factors identified as "active/elated" hypomania and "risk-taking/irritable" hypomania. The HCL-32 distinguished between BP and MDD with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 51%.
LIMITATIONS
Although the HCL-32 is a sensitive instrument for hypomanic symptoms, it does not distinguish between BP-I and BP-II disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
Future studies should test if different combinations of items, possibly recording the consequences of hypomania, can distinguish between these BP subtypes.
Bipolar disorders (BP) are frequently diagnosed and treated as pure depression initially; accurate diagnosis often being delayed by 8 to 10 years. In prospective studies, the presence of hypomanic symptoms in adolescence is strongly predictive of later bipolar disorders. As such, an instrument for self-assessment of hypomanic symptoms might increase the detection of suspected and of manifest, but under-treated, cases of bipolar disorders.
METHODS
The multi-lingual hypomania checklist (HCL-32) has been developed and is being tested internationally. This preliminary paper reports the performance of the scale in distinguishing individuals with BP (N=266) from those with major depressive disorder (MDD; N=160). The samples were adult psychiatry patients recruited in Italy (N=186) and Sweden (N=240).
RESULTS
The samples reported similar clinical profiles and the structure for the HCL-32 demonstrated two main factors identified as "active/elated" hypomania and "risk-taking/irritable" hypomania. The HCL-32 distinguished between BP and MDD with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 51%.
LIMITATIONS
Although the HCL-32 is a sensitive instrument for hypomanic symptoms, it does not distinguish between BP-I and BP-II disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
Future studies should test if different combinations of items, possibly recording the consequences of hypomania, can distinguish between these BP subtypes.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.011
- PMID 16125784
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.rero.ch/global/documents/289664
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