Mania and behavioral equivalents: a preliminary study

Previous research has failed to address the possibility of behavioral equivalents in people with ID and mania. The relationship between a measure of mania and possible behavioral equivalents was assessed in 693 adults, most with severe or profound ID, living in a large residential setting. The mania subscale of the DASH-II proved to be a homogenous scale, suggesting that this may be a valid measure of mania in individuals with ID. Both item and factor analyses and correlations showed that many behavioral items acceptably correlated with the mania items. There may be some challenging behaviors that are related to mania in individuals with ID. A factor analysis noted a decreased need for sleep, restlessness, agitation, and irritability as items associated with mania.