ABSTRACT
Background: It is clinically challenging to distinguish bipolar disorder (BD) from major depressive disorder (MDD) in the early stages. While the hypomania checklist-32 (HCL-32) is a proper auxiliary tool that is useful to differentiate between BD and MDD, there is currently no standard cut-off value. The variations in HCL-32 cut-off values could potentially be influenced by personality traits. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of personality traits on the screening performance of HCL-32. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 168 patients with BD or MDD were evaluated with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and HCL-32. The associations between demographic data, diagnosis and clinical rating scales were analyzed. Results: Diagnosis was not associated with extraversion but was related to neuroticism. HCL-32 scores in typical extraverted patients were higher in contrast to atypical extraverted patients. The best cut-off value for BD recognition of typical and atypical extraversion groups were 15 and 12.5, respectively. In patients with MDD, HCL-32 score of typical neuroticism was higher than the atypical type, but there was no difference in patients with BD. In typical neuroticism, there was no difference in HCL-32 scores between patients with MDD and BD. But among atypical neurotic patients, HCL-32 scores of BD were higher compared to MDD, with a cut-off value of 14.5. Limitations: This study had a small sample size. Conclusion: HCL-32 scores were affected by personality traits, with higher scores for typical extraversion and neuroticism. Clinicians should also consider the patients' personality traits when referring to HCL-32 scores, so as to increase the recognition rate of BD and eliminate false positives.
ABSTRACT
The contemporary knowledge of the construct and operationalization of psychopathy in East Asian countries is still limited. The present paper examines the validity and applicability of the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) based on the triarchic model of psychopathy in Chinese clinical and nonclinical samples. The results of Study 1 using a psychiatric patient sample (N = 193) showed that the pattern of associations between the TriPM scales (Boldness, Meanness, and Disinhibition) and the 3 factors (Egocentricity, Callous, and Antisocial) of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale were similar to previous studies using English-speaking samples. Study 2 examined the construct validity of the TriPM with the inclusion of culturally adapted measures as external criteria in a university sample (N = 311). The TriPM Boldness scale was uniquely associated with fearlessness, whereas TriPM Disinhibition was associated with risky behaviors. TriPM Meanness significantly correlated with a Chinese interpersonal construct, Renqing, which is a social norm of interpersonal affect and relations. Cross-cultural implications for psychopathy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
