Do current beliefs predict hypomanic symptoms beyond personality style? Factor analysis of the hypomanic attitudes and positive predictions inventory (HAPPI) and its association with hypomanic symptoms in a student population.

A self-report scale called the Hypomanic Attitudes and Positive Predictions Inventory (HAPPI) has been developed to assess cognitions that distinguish between bipolar disorder and nonclinical controls (Mansell, 2006; Mansell & Jones, 2006). We recruited 191 undergraduate students to assess the associations between the HAPPI and self-reported past (MDQ; Hirschfeld et al., 2000) and present (ISS; Bauer et al., 1991) bipolar symptoms, and to explore the factor structure of the scale. The HAPPI correlated with past and present symptoms independently of the BIS/BAS subscales (Carver & White, 1994) and the HPS (Eckblad & Chapman, 1986). Five factors of the HAPPI were identified: success activation and triumph over fear, activating response style, reduced social regulation, loss of control when activated, and catastrophic beliefs about internal states. The HAPPI factors showed specific relationships with current bipolar symptoms that largely fitted with predictions based on the model. Further work is required to establish whether they have a causal role.