The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM) is a 5-item self-reported diagnostic scale which can be used to assess the presence and severity manic and hypomanic symptoms, most commonly in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[1]
Effectiveness
The ASRM scale has been shown to be an effective self-reported questionnaire for screening patients with acute mania as well as measuring anti-manic treatment effects.[2][3] Though only a 5-question instrument, the scale's compatibility with the clinician administered Young Mania Rating Scale and the DSM-IV criteria give substantial diagnostic power for such a brief instrument.[2]
Format
The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale assess differences in "normal" or baseline levels in five subjective and behavioral areas:
positive mood
self-confidence
sleep patterns
speech patterns and amount
motor activity
Each of these areas has five statements which correspond to scores 0 through 4; with 0 being unchanged from "normal" or baseline, to 4 being overtly manic thoughts or behavior.[1] The subject is asked to choose one statement from each of the five areas that best describes the way they have been feeling over the past week.[1]
Scoring
Scores above a 5 are indicative of mania, or hypomania, with the severity of symptoms increasing with higher scores.[1]
^ abcdAltman EG, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale. Biol Psychiatry. 1997 Nov 15;42(10):948-55. PMID9359982
^ abAltman EG, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. A comparative evaluation of three self-rating scales for acute mania. Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Sep 15;50(6):468-71. PMID11566165
^Bräuning E.G., Sarkar R. et.al Gender differences in psychotic bipolar mania. Gend Med. 2009 Jul;6(2):356-61. PMID19682662
