Assessing the Community Prevalence of Bipolar Spectrum Symptoms by the Mood Disorder Questionnaire

Vol. 74, No. 2, 2005

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Assessing the Community Prevalence of Bipolar Spectrum Symptoms by the Mood Disorder Questionnaire
Lara Mangelli^a, Franco Benazzi^a, Giovanni A. Fava^a,b

^aAffective Disorders Program, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;
^bDepartment of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Psychother Psychosom 2005;74:120-122 (DOI: 10.1159/000083171)

Key Words

Bipolar disorders
Manic/hypomanic syndromes
Mood Disorder Questionnaire
Subclinical symptoms

Abstract

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.

Author Contacts

G.A. Fava, MD
Department of Psychology, University of Bologna
Viale Berti Pichat 5
IT-40127 Bologna (Italy)
Tel. +39 051 209 1339, Fax +39 051 243 086, E-Mail giovanniandrea.fava@unibo.it

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 26

Medline Abstract (ID 15741762)

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