Validation of the Chinese version of the hypomania checklist (HCL-32) as an instrument for detecting hypo(mania) in patients with mood disorders.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder (BP) has been consistently under-recognized and erroneously diagnosed as major depression. The resulting inappropriate or delayed treatment is associated with elevated risk of (hypo)mania or cycling. The recognition of (hypo)manic episodes is essential for the correct diagnosis of BP. The Hypomania CheckList (HCL-32) is developed to increase the detection of suspected or manifest but mistreated BP cases. We aimed to determine the accuracy and validity of the Chinese version of the HCL-32 in an adult psychiatric setting. We also compared the results with prior studies carried out in a comparable sample.


METHODS
Patients suffering from mood disorders completed the HCL-32 before being interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia-Lifetime (SADS-L) to make DSM-IV diagnosis. The 4-day duration criterion for hypomania was replaced by a 2-day cut-off for BPII. The internal consistency and discriminatory capacity of the HCL-32 were analyzed.


RESULTS
Results indicated high internal consistency of the Chinese version of the HCL-32. The dual factor structure was confirmed. A score of 14 or more on the HCL-32 total scale distinguished between BP and MDD yielding a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 67%. This scale also distinguished between BPI and BPII with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 73% for the cut-off score of 21.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample size of MDD patients needs to be increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The Chinese HCL-32 is a useful screening tool for BP in a psychiatric setting. Its performance is also comparable to that reported in previous studies.
Wu
Yi-Syuan
YS
Institute of Behavioral Medicine, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC.
Angst
Jules
J
Ou
Chien-Shao
CS
Chen
Hui-Chun
HC
Lu
Ru-Band
RB
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013624:Taiwan