Do current beliefs predict hypomanic symptoms beyond personality style? Factor analysis of the hypomanic attitudes and positive predictions inventory (HAPPI) and its association with hypomanic symptoms in a student population

Abstract

A self-report scale called the Hypomanic Attitudes and Positive Predictions Inventory (HAPPI) has been developed to assess cognitions that distinguish between bipolar disorder and nonclinical controls (Mansell, 2006; Mansell & Jones, 2006). We recruited 191 undergraduate students to assess the associations between the HAPPI and self-reported past (MDQ; Hirschfeld et al., 2000) and present (ISS; Bauer et al., 1991) bipolar symptoms, and to explore the factor structure of the scale. The HAPPI correlated with past and present symptoms independently of the BIS/BAS subscales (Carver & White, 1994) and the HPS (Eckblad & Chapman, 1986). Five factors of the HAPPI were identified: success activation and triumph over fear, activating response style, reduced social regulation, loss of control when activated, and catastrophic beliefs about internal states. The HAPPI factors showed specific relationships with current bipolar symptoms that largely fitted with predictions based on the model. Further work is required to establish whether they have a causal role.

Do Extreme Beliefs About Internal States Predict Mood Swings in an Analogue Sample?

“…In addition, HYP was a unique predictor of ISS Activation, but not Conflict or Depression. This is consistent with previous studies (e.g., Mansell et al 2008).…”

“…The results suggest that beliefs measured by the HAPPI are independent yet also complement other trait measures, which have previously been shown to be predictive of both analogue and clinical bipolar symptoms (Kwapil et al 2000;Meyer et al 1999Meyer et al , 2001. It has already been demonstrated (Mansell et al 2008) that the 50-item HAPPI was uniquely associated with a history of hypomanic experiences. That the expanded version is independently related to subsequent hypomania-relevant internal states (ISS Activation and Conflict) is encouraging.…”

“…The HAPPI has also distinguished individuals with BD from those with unipolar depression (Alatiq et al 2010;Mansell et al in press). In student samples, the HAPPI was independently associated with a history of hypomanic experiences (Mansell et al 2008), and with bipolar-relevant symptoms after 3 months (Dodd et al 2010). Most of these relationships were upheld when controlling for demographics and the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HYP; Eckblad and Chapman 1986) and Behavioural Inhibition and Behavioural Activation Scales (BIS/BAS; Carver and White 1994), which are both trait measures often used to investigate vulnerability to BD.…”

“…As an extension on a previous study examining crosssectional associations between bipolar-relevant experiences and the HAPPI (Mansell et al 2008), the current study examined prospective associations between the HAPPI and internal states; activation (e.g., racing thoughts), conflict (e.g., irritability), depression, and psychological wellbeing. These internal states are all relevant to the continuum of mood fluctuation mentioned in Mansell et al's (2007) model, and all represent aspects of bipolar symptomatology; for example, hyperactivity is arguably a key facet of hypomania (Benazzi 2007).…”

The Cognition Checklist for Mania—Revised (CCL-M-R): Factor-Analytic Structure and Links with Risk for Mania, Diagnoses of Mania, and Current Symptoms

“…Recent factor-analytic evidence suggests that these three facets of state-dependent cognition are independent and that each adds unique variance to hypomanic risk (Johnson & Jones, in press). , Mansell Rigby, Tai, and Lowe (2008) recently found that hypomanic symptoms were correlated with the tendency to endorse a broad range of cognitive statements, including statements regarding consequences of the positive moods (e.g., not being responsible for dealing with the moods, not being understood, not eating), loss of control over moods, diminished tearfulness (when I feel excited, my fears and worries are no longer real), and response styles to positive moods (mood-related increases in idea generation). Indeed, one recent focus has been on understanding the cognitive processes involved in the manic ascent, and to provide interventions tailored toward these issues (Mansell & Pedley, 2008).…”