ASRM

Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale

Measure Overview
Measure Details

Overview

Description:

A 5-item self-report questionnaire for "assessing the presence and severity of symptoms for most mild and many moderately disturbed manic patients." (Altman et al., 1997) Three subscales include mania, psychotic symptoms, and irritability.

Author(s):

Altman EG, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM

Constructs:

Mania, psychotic symptoms, and irritability.

Recall Period:

Not Specified

Age Group:

Adults

Assessed By:

Self

Publications

Original Publications:

Altman EG, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. "The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale." Biol. Psychiatry. 1997;42(10):948-55.

Open on PubMed

Open Abstract

We report on the development, reliability, and validity of the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM). The ASRM was completed during medication washout and after treatment by 22 schizophrenic, 13 schizoaffective, 36 depressed, and 34 manic patients. The Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M) and Mania Rating Scale (MRS) were completed at the same time to measure concurrent validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed separately on 20 depressed and 10 manic patients who completed the ASRM twice during washout. Principal components analysis of ASRM items revealed three factors: mania, psychotic symptoms, and irritability. Baseline mania subscale scores were significantly higher for manic patients compared to all other diagnostic groups. Manic patients had significantly decreased posttreatment scores for all three subscales. ASRM mania subscale scores were significantly correlated with MRS total scores (r = .718) and CARS-M mania subscale scores (r = .766). Test-retest reliability for the ASRM was significant for all three subscales. Significant differences in severity levels were found for some symptoms between patient ratings on the ASRM and clinician ratings on the CARS-M. Mania subscale scores of greater than 5 on the ASRM resulted in values of 85.5% for sensitivity and 87.3% for specificity. Advantages of the ASRM over other self-rating mania scales are discussed.

Validation Publications:

Alvarez Mas P, Benavent Rodríguez P, García Valls JM, Livianos Aldana L, Rojo Moreno L. "[Translation and adaptation in the Spanish environment of the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale]." Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2005;33(3):180-7.

Open on PubMed

Open Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study is the translation, adaptation and validation in the Spanish environment of a self-rating of mania scale, the Altman Self-Rating Scale for Mania (ASRM), to fulfill a need in our environment in the self-rating of mania. METHODS: The scale was translated, and then a back translation was done. This was sent to the author of the original scale. The scale was administered to a sample of 74 patients with bipolar disorder, divided into two groups, one formed by patients with acute mania (n=35) and the other one constituted by asymptomatic patients (n=39). Concurrently we applied the Clinician Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M) and the Numeric Evaluation Scale (NES). RESULTS: High internal consistency, high and significant correlation with the CARS-M mania sub-scale, as well as with the NES and very significant differences between the two groups in the scale score were found. The ROC curve indicates excellent adjustment of the scale, when discriminating among bipolar patients with and without manic symptoms. The factorial analysis provided a single factor that accounts for 62% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale is shown to be a reliable and valid self-rating instrument to assess the presence and intensity of manic symptoms. It makes it possible to carry out simple and quick assessments of the patient's state, can be used for research as clinical objectives and can also be a screening instrument.

Review Publications:

Smith S, Heron J, Haque S, Clarke P, Oyebode F, Jones I. "Measuring hypomania in the postpartum: a comparison of the Highs Scale and the Altman Mania Rating Scale." Arch Womens Ment Health. 2009;12(5):323-7.

Open on PubMed

Open Abstract

We examine the prevalence of hypomania on day 3 postpartum using two self-report mania scales: The Highs Scale and Altman Mania Rating Scale (AMRS). 279 women were recruited from postnatal wards and completed the questionnaires on day 3 postpartum. The scales show good correlation, however, 11% of women meet the suggested threshold for caseness on the Highs Scale and 44% on the AMRS. Hypomanic symptoms are commonly experienced in the early postpartum. Although there is some evidence that the Highs Scale might be conservative, the AMRS likely overestimates hypomania in the postpartum. The definition of what constitutes 'a case' of postnatal hypomania requires further validation against clinical interview and ability to predict variables of clinical importance. Mania scales developed in bipolar disorder populations must be specifically validated for postpartum use.

Altman E, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. "A comparative evaluation of three self-rating scales for acute mania." Biol. Psychiatry. 2001;50(6):468-71.

Open on PubMed

Open Abstract

This study compared the performance of three self-rating mania scales, The Internal State Scale (ISS), the Self-Report Manic Inventory (SRMI), and the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM), in a group of patients with acute mania. Forty-four adult inpatients with bipolar disorder, manic or mixed, completed all scales shortly after admission, and 31 patients completed them again after 4-6 weeks of pharmacotherapy. Patients also were rated by clinicians on the Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M). At baseline, scores on the ASRM and the ISS well-being subscale were significantly correlated with CARS-M scores. Posttreatment scores were significantly decreased for the ASRM, SRMI, and the ISS activation subscale. The sensitivities for each scale to correctly identify patients with acute symptoms was 45% for the ISS, 86% for the SRMI, and 93% for the ASRM. Specificities were 73%, 46.6%, and 33%, respectively. The ASRM and SRMI were more sensitive than the ISS in screening patients with acute mania. All three measures were sensitive to treatment effects; however, the item content of the SRMI and the poor sensitivity of the ISS may limit their utility in inpatient settings.

Details

Internal Consistency:

Not Available

Test-retest Reliability:

Not Available

Intra-interviewer Reliability:

Not Available

Inter-interviewer Reliability:

Not Available

Discriminant Validity:

Not Available

Convergent Validity:

Not Available

Known Groups Validity:

Not Available

Criterion Validity:

Not Available

Responsiveness:

Not Available

ASRM

Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale

Overview

Publications

Details

Related Topics

ASRM

Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale

Community Discussion

Toolbox

Related Measures