Description

The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) is a psychometric tool used to assess the severity of manic episodes in individuals with mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder. The questionnaire was developed by Vincent E. Young and R.C. Biggs in 1978 and remains one of the most widely used instruments for evaluating mania. Below is a detailed description of its purpose, structure, scoring, and related literature.

Purpose

The main objectives of the Young Mania Rating Scale are:
Assessment of manic symptom severity: To provide a quantitative evaluation of manic symptoms.
Monitoring treatment progress: To track symptom changes over time to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
Comparison with other psychiatric conditions: To help differentiate mania from other psychiatric disorders through comparative symptom analysis.

Analysis

The YMRS consists of 11 items, each rated based on symptom severity. These criteria include:
Elevated Mood: Evaluation of increased mood and euphoria.
Self-Esteem: Measurement of elevated self-esteem or grandiosity.
Sleep: Assessment of sleep need and potential reduction.
Speech: Measurement of speed and pressure of speech.
Activity: Assessment of increased activity and energy.
Sexual Interest: Evaluation of heightened sexual interest.
Aggressiveness: Measurement of hostility and aggressive behavior.
Insight: Evaluation of the individual’s recognition of their condition.
Grandiose Ideas: Measurement of delusional thoughts of grandeur.
Paranoid Ideas: Assessment of paranoid delusions.
Disordered Thinking: Evaluation of disorganized or fragmented thought processes.
Most items are rated on a scale from 0 to 4, while certain critical items are rated on a 0 to 8 scale.

Scoring

The total YMRS score ranges from 0 to 60. Interpretation of the total score is as follows:
0–12: No or minimal mania
13–19: Mild mania
20–25: Moderate mania
26 and above: Severe mania
Both total and subscale scores help clinicians monitor the illness course and adjust treatment plans according to patient needs.

References

Young, R. C., Biggs, J. T., Ziegler, V. E., & Meyer, D. A. (1978). A Rating Scale for Mania: Reliability, Validity and Sensitivity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 133(5), 429–435.
Bräunig, P., Krüger, S., & Shugar, G. (1998). A Clinical Investigation of Patients with Bizarre Delusions: Manic Episodes with and without Mood Congruent Psychotic Features. Psychopathology, 31(2), 59–68.
Montgomery, S. A., & Asberg, M. (1979). A New Depression Scale Designed to be Sensitive to Change. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134(4), 382–389.