Background
The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM) is a widely used self-report screening instrument developed to assess the presence and severity of manic and hypomanic symptoms commonly associated with bipolar-spectrum conditions.
The ASRM focuses on recent changes in mood, energy, sleep, activity level, confidence, and speech patterns. The questionnaire is designed to provide a rapid indication of elevated mood states and behavioral activation that may occur during manic or hypomanic episodes.
The ASRM explores several important symptom domains:
Positive Mood
Self-Confidence
Sleep Patterns
Speech
Activity Level
Positive Mood measures unusually elevated mood, cheerfulness, emotional excitement, and feelings of excessive happiness.
Self-Confidence measures increased confidence, inflated self-esteem, grandiosity, and unusually strong feelings of personal capability.
Sleep Patterns measure reduced need for sleep, decreased fatigue despite limited rest, and unusually high energy levels.
Speech measures increased talkativeness, rapid speech, pressured speech, and difficulty being interrupted during conversation.
Activity Level measures heightened social activity, increased productivity, excessive energy, impulsive engagement, and increased goal-directed behavior.
The ASRM is commonly used in clinical screening, psychological research, mood monitoring, and educational settings. The questionnaire is intended as a screening and symptom-monitoring tool and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic instrument.