[Validation by Rasch analysis of the Mania Scale (EMUN) for measuring manic symptions].
BACKGROUND
The Mania Scale (EMUN) developed at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia was designed to measure the severity of manic symptoms, but has been validated only using classical psychometric theory.


OBJECTIVE
The psychometric properties and measuring characteristics of the EMUN scale were determined using an analysis based on item response theory.


METHODS
Two hundred sixty-four patients with manic, hypomanic or mixed episode symptoms were assessed using the EMUN scale. The psychometric characteristics of the scale were analyzed using a Rasch model for partial credit scoring.


RESULTS
The analysis based on the item response theory showed that reliability and separation indexes for persons are low in contrast to items. This suggested a narrow representation of the construct evaluated in this sample. Reduced need to sleep has been the most easily detectable symptom in mania. Excepting depressive affect and distractibility, the majority of items fit the model's expectation The rating scale diagnostics showed that the average measures increase monotonically across the rating scale. Two items showed redundancy and can be omitted in future versions of the scale. The person-item map suggested that the syndrome is not fully evaluated by the scale, probably because some depressive symptoms are not included.


CONCLUSIONS
In this first study to use Rasch analysis to assess the psychometric properties of the EMUN scale, misfit and redundancy of items have been detected. The manic syndrome is not fully evaluated by the scale. The instrument can be improved by adding depressive symptoms.
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia. rsanchezpe@unal.edu.co
Ricardo
R
Sánchez
Juliana
J
Velásquez
Álvaro
Á
Navarro
D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011338:Probability Theory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D063189:Symptom Assessment
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs