Relationships between substance use and hypomanic symptoms in a non-clinical sample.

Abstract

Previous work has demonstrated high levels of comorbidity between bipolar disorders and substance use disorders. There appears to be a relationship between substance use and hypomanic symptoms within the general population, but there has been little research in the area. The aim of the study was to examine relationships between substance use variables and hypomanic symptoms in a non-clinical sample. An international sample of 400 undergraduate students completed the 32-item hypomania checklist (HCL-32) and an author-constructed measure of substance use. Scores on the HCL-32 were significantly higher for those who were currently using amphetamines, and were approaching signifiance for those currently using cannabis, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and cocaine. Those with a lifetime history of cocaine and amphetamine use had significantly higher scores, and there was a non-significant trend for the same effect with lifetime MDMA use. Statistically significant correlations were found between scores...