All is fair in love and hypomania

Abstract

BackgroundMany studies have found increased hypomanic scores in people in love. However, none controlled for the presence of cyclothymic or hyperthymic temperaments. Our primary objective was to test the hypothesis postulating that passionate love is similar to a hypomanic state while controlling for the presence of a susceptible underlying temperament. Our secondary objective was to look for an association between hypomanic symptoms and love intensity as measured by the Passionate Love Scale. MethodsAn online survey including the hypomanic check list-32 (HCL-32) and the passionate love scale (PLS) was administered to university students. ResultsTwo-hundred and eighty-two responses were retained. The mean age of the participants was 21.1 years (SD 2.8) and 62.1% (n=175) were females. 74.6% of participants in love were found to have a positive HCL-32 result as compared to 63.1% of participants who were not in love (p=0.038). The association remained significant and the difference more prominent after excluding people in whom a hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament was suspected (70.3% vs 45%; p= =0.025). A statistically significant but weak correlation was found between the HCL-32 and PLS scores (Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.239; P=0.005). The latter association was lost after excluding participants in whom a hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament was suspected. ConclusionsLove seems similar to hypomania, at least phenomenologically. It also seems that hypomanic symptoms are linked to the state of love per se, rather than to its intensity. The positive association between love and hypomania is also discussed from psychiatric, neurobiological, and anthropological perspectives.