Mania scale

Bech–Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MAS)

Main reference: Bech P, Bolwig TG, Kramp P, Rafaelsen OJ: The Bech–Rafaelsen Mania Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 59:420–430, 1979.

Type: Clinician-rated symptom scale.

Main indications: Designed to assess the presence and severity of clinical features of mania and hypomania and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for bipolar disorder.

Rating performed by: Trained health professional.

Time period covered by scale: At least three days preceding the assessment; the time frame covered should be specified with the results.

Time required to complete rating: 10–15 minutes.

Remarks: Assesses 11 items (elevated mood, pressure of speech, increased social contact, increased motor activity, sleep disturbances, social activities and distractability, hostility and irritability, increased sexual activity, increased self-esteem, flight of thoughts, and noise level of speech and other vocal activity).
Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present or no difficulties) to 4. The total score has been standardised so that scores <15 indicate hypomania, scores around 20 indicate moderate mania, and scores around 28 indicate severe mania.