Validation of HCL-33 in screening for bipolar disorder in patients with depressive episode

Abstract

Introduction

Hypomania Check List 33 (HCL-33) constitutes a self-rating questionnaire for lifetime history of hypomanic symptoms, used in patients who present with depressive symptoms and a further screening for bipolar disorder is required.

Objectives

- Translation and cultural adaptation of HCL-33

- Measuring psychometric abilities, gender and age differences in score

Methods

In order to culturally adapt, standardize and validate the instrument for the Albanian context, the reliability and validity of the HCL-33 was examined using an sample of 99 patients, of whom 22 were diagnosed as bipolar disorder but all presented with a depressive episode.

In order to reach reliability, internal consistency analyses were performed.

Results

The factor analysis yielded two factor, with an internal consistency of .838 and .736 from the Cronbach’s alphas, with a total alpha of .765, falling within the “good to excellent” range.

Furthermore, Albanian norm scores and cut-off scores have been generated for the Albanian version of HCL-33. The article provides evidence regarding the psychometric propërties and utility of HCL-33 in the Albanian adult population for clinical assessment, outcome evaluations and research purposes. With a cut-off value of 16, sensitivity was 73% and specificity was 53%, with a prevalence of 22% and positivie predictive value of 30% and negative predictive value 87%.

Gender differences were not relevant in the total scoring, but there was a positive correlation between age an HCL-33 scoring (r(n=99)=.243, p≤.01), especially with Factor II (r(n=99)=.211, p≤.05).

Conclusions

The article provides evidence regarding the psychometric properties and utility of HCL-33 in the Albanian adult population as a screening tool for bipolar disorder in patients presenting with a depressive episode.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared