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Olanzapine plasma level in relation to antimanic effect in the acute therapy of manic states

P Bech1, M Gex-Fabry, J-M Aubry

  • 1Psychiatric Research Unit, Frederiksborg General Hospital, Hilleroed, Denmark. pebe@fa.dk

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
|April 26, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MAS) shows better internal and external validity than the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for assessing mania. This suggests MAS is a more reliable tool for evaluating bipolar disorder symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MAS) are widely used for mania assessment.
  • Evaluating the validity of these scales is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment monitoring in bipolar disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the internal and external validity of the YMRS and MAS in patients diagnosed with DSM-IV mania.
  • To determine which scale offers a more reliable measure of manic symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Mokken analysis was employed to assess the internal validity (homogeneity) of both scales.
  • External validity was examined by correlating scale scores with plasma olanzapine levels in patients receiving treatment.

Main Results:

  • The MAS demonstrated acceptable internal validity (coefficient of homogeneity ≥ 0.40), while the YMRS did not.
  • A significant association between MAS scores and olanzapine plasma levels was observed in female patients, but not with the YMRS.

Conclusions:

  • The Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MAS) exhibits superior internal and external validity compared to the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for patients with DSM-IV mania.
  • The findings support the use of MAS as a more robust instrument for evaluating mania.

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