Abstract
ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the suitability of the Chinese version of the Hypomania Symptom Checklist (HCL-32) scale for psychiatric department outpatients with mood disorders in Chinese general hospitals, and provide a theoretical basis for the application of the HCL-32 scale.MethodsOutpatients with mood disorders receiving continuous treatment in the psychiatric medicine department of three top-ranking general hospitals in three cities completed scoring the HCL-32 scale.ResultsA total of 1010 patients were recruited. 417 were diagnosed with bipolar disorder (236 for type I and 181 for type II) and 593 were depression. Four factors with eigenvalues >1 were considered. Factor 1 with an eigenvalue of 5.5 was labeled “active/cheerful”. Factor 2 with an eigenvalue of 2.7 was labeled “adventurous/irritable.” The coefficient of internal consistency reliability of the HCL-32 total scale was 0.84, and the coefficients for factors 1 and 2 were 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. With the total score of HCL-32≥14 as positive standard, the sensitivity of HCL-32 was calculated at 69.30% and the specificity was 97.81%.ConclusionsResults showed that HCL-32 had a preferable reliability and validity and was suitable as auxiliary means for bipolar disorder screening in general hospitals.
Highlights
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a group of diseases caused by various factors, clinically characterized by significant changes in mood or emotion
The practice guideline for the treatment of patients with BD developed by the American Psychiatric Association indicates that BD II is often misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, thereby preventing patients from receiving proper treatment [5]
Studies have identified factors leading to misdiagnosis of BD and treatment failure: One is that patients in a state of depression generally do not realize that hypomania is a morbidity; these patients do not inform their clinicians about the condition [6]
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a group of diseases caused by various factors, clinically characterized by significant changes in mood or emotion. This disorder is mainly manifested in either elevated or low mood, accompanied by corresponding cognitive and behavioral changes [1]. Studies have indicated that current diagnostic standards are not as reliable and valid as previously thought. These standards include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) and The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. Monitoring the change in symptoms during the entire course of the disease is essential in the diagnosis of BD [9,10]
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