Hypomania Checklist – 32

What it measures

A self-report screening tool for lifetime hypomanic symptoms, widely used to identify bipolar II disorder and the bipolar spectrum in patients presenting with depression. Captures both the active/elated and the risk-taking/irritable dimensions of hypomania. Scores >=14 suggest likely bipolar spectrum disorder.

Response format

Yes/No (0 or 1); total 0–32; plus global rating of change

Representative items

• I need less sleep than usual.
• I feel more energetic and more active.
• I am more self-confident than usual.
• I enjoy my work more; I have more ideas; I am more creative.
• I am more talkative than usual.

Usage notes & scoring

Freely available from Jules Angst. Total score >=14 indicates likely bipolar spectrum disorder in depressed outpatients. Two-factor structure: Active/Elated (most predictive of bipolar II) and Risk-Taking/Irritable. Important for differential diagnosis — use alongside BDI-II or PHQ-9 to screen for bipolar presentation in depressed samples.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Angst, J., Adolfsson, R., Benazzi, F., Gamma, A., Hantouche, E., Meyer, T.D., Skeppar, P., Vieta, E., & Scott, J. (2005). The HCL-32: Towards a self-assessment tool for hypomanic symptoms in outpatients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 88(2), 217–233.

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