Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Assessing the community prevalence of bipolar spectrum symptoms by the mood disorder questionnaire.

Mangelli L, Benazzi F, Fava GA

Affective Disorders Program, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to assess the frequency and spectrum of symptoms related to bipolar disorders in a community sample by means of a self-rating questionnaire. METHOD: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire, a self-rating scale which evaluates DSM-IV manic/hypomanic symptoms, was administered to a community sample of 1,034 individuals recruited through advertisements. Symptom interrelationships were studied by factor analysis. RESULTS: 275 individuals (26.6%) reported moderate or severe impairment due to the symptoms. Manic/hypomanic symptoms were present in a high proportion of individuals. Factor analysis found a two-factor structure of bipolar spectrum symptoms (an elevated mood overactivity factor, and an irritable behavior factor). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the need of complementing clinical investigations on the bipolar spectrum with community studies. Subclinical manic-hypomanic symptoms may be present also in allegedly unipolar patients and may have implications on the course of illness.

Published 2 March 2005 in Psychother Psychosom, 74(2): 120-2.
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