The Hypomanic Personality Scale, the Big Five, and their relationship to depression and mania

The present study investigates (1) if the Hypomanic Personality Scale [Hyp; Eckblad, M., & Chapman, L.J., (1986). Development and validation of a scale for hypomanic personality. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 214–222.] correlates with other personality traits and (2) whether the Hyp scales or other measures such as Neuroticism and Extraversion are more strongly associated with affective symptoms. The participants ( n=224) completed questionnaires including the Hyp scale, the NEO-FFI, and the CES-D and were independently interviewed with the CIDI to assess depression and mania. The results showed that the Hyp scale correlated only with the NEO-FFI dimensions Extraversion and Openness. In contrast to Extraversion, the Hyp scale was significantly associated with symptoms of depression and mania, and was more strongly related to manic symptoms than Neuroticism was. Decile scores of the Hyp scale were not associated with depressive symptoms, but were associated with manic symptoms. Discussion focuses on the question of whether the Hyp scale represents a possible risk factor for bipolar disorder. The possibility of a “manic defense” against depression is also discussed.