Three studies on self-report scales to detect bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the usefulness of self-report scales for detecting bipolar disorder in several settings.


METHODS
Study 1 developed a short form of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (the HPS-6) based on clinic/community and undergraduate samples. Study 2 used this scale for recruiting participants with bipolar disorder from the community. Study 3 administered the full-length Hypomanic Personality Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and a short form of the General Behavior Inventory (the GBI-15) to an undergraduate sample. Each study featured a reference standard diagnostic interview.


RESULTS
In Study 2, about half of those responding to the advertisement (based on the HPS-6 developed in Study 1) reported a history of at least one hypomanic episode on a telephone-based SCID. In Study 3, the most robust findings emerged for the GBI-15: about one-third of participants screening positive on that measure met criteria for bipolar disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite large sample sizes and stratified sampling, this study was limited by a low number of participants with bipolar I disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
These three studies produced mixed findings regarding the detection of bipolar disorder via self-report. The HPS-6 was reasonably successful in recruiting participants with a history of at least one manic or hypomanic episode into a study on bipolar disorder. The GBI-15 showed some promise as a screening tool in an undergraduate setting, but there is a need for more sensitive and specific scales. Discussion focuses on potential strategies for developing such scales.
Miller
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA. cmiller@psy.miami.edu
Johnson
Sheri L
SL
Kwapil
Thomas R
TR
Carver
Charles S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010556:Personality Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult