Mania & Hypomania Test (ASRM)
A confidential self-assessment built on the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM), the validated 5-item measure researchers use to screen for manic and hypomanic symptoms over the past week. You get an instant, plain-language result with the real research cutoff explained, plus a professional PDF report you can keep or bring to a clinician.
Mania & Hypomania Test (ASRM) is a free, confidential 5-question self-assessment, based on the validated ASRM. It takes about 3 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus a downloadable PDF report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
Five signals of an elevated week
Mania and hypomania rarely announce themselves. They show up as feeling great, needing less sleep, and getting more done, which is exactly why they get missed. The ASRM asks about the five signals research finds most telling.
The five ASRM domains
Elevated or cheerful mood, inflated self-confidence, reduced need for sleep, increased or faster talking, and increased activity. Each is rated from 0 to 4 based on the past week, for a total from 0 to 20.
The research cutoff
In the validation research, a total of 6 or higher indicated a high probability of a manic or hypomanic condition and warrants professional evaluation. We show you exactly where you land relative to that line and what crossing it does and does not mean.
The past week only
The ASRM measures current symptoms, not your history. It can catch an elevated stretch as it happens, but it says nothing about past episodes, which is why it pairs naturally with a lifetime screen like our bipolar test.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated ASRM domains | Rarely | Yes, all 5 |
| Real research cutoff (6+) | Vague labels | Yes, clearly explained |
| Current-week vs lifetime made clear | No | Yes, with a lifetime screen to pair |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–20 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5 | Below the screening threshold | Your past week scored below the ASRM cutoff of 6, so this screen is negative for current manic or hypomanic symptoms. |
| 6–9 | Possible hypomanic symptoms | Your past week reached the ASRM screening threshold of 6. In the research, this range indicates a high probability of manic or hypomanic symptoms worth evaluating. |
| 10–20 | Significant manic symptoms | Your past week scored well above the ASRM threshold, suggesting significant manic or hypomanic symptoms right now. Please treat this as a reason to seek an evaluation soon. |
Methodology & sources
The five questions cover the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM), developed by Altman, Hedeker, Peterson and Davis (1997) as a brief self-report measure of manic symptoms over the past week. The original scale presents each domain as five graded statements and asks you to pick the one that fits best; we present each domain as a single statement rated on a 0 to 4 scale from not at all to extremely, which preserves the domains, the scoring range, and the direction of the original while letting the test read as one smooth series. The total runs from 0 to 20, and the validation research found that a score of 6 or higher identified people experiencing manic or hypomanic symptoms with good sensitivity and specificity, making it the standard screening cutoff.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection, not diagnosis. The ASRM measures the past seven days only: a low score does not rule out bipolar disorder, because between episodes most people score low, and a high score is a snapshot, not a history. Diagnosis depends on the pattern over time, including any depressive episodes, which is why an elevated ASRM result is best followed by our bipolar test, which screens lifetime history, and by a professional evaluation. Only a licensed clinician, usually a psychiatrist, can diagnose mania, hypomania, or bipolar disorder.
References
- Altman EG, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. The Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale. Biol Psychiatry. 1997;42(10):948–955. doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(96)00548-3
- Altman E, Hedeker D, Peterson JL, Davis JM. A comparative evaluation of three self-rating scales for acute mania. Biol Psychiatry. 2001;50(6):468–471. doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01065-4
- Hirschfeld RM, Williams JB, Spitzer RL, et al. Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157(11):1873–1875. doi.org/10.1176/ajp.157.11.1873
Mania & Hypomania Test (ASRM) FAQ
What is the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale?
The ASRM is a short, validated questionnaire that measures manic and hypomanic symptoms over the past week across five domains: mood, self-confidence, sleep need, talking, and activity. It was developed for research and clinical monitoring, it tracks well against clinician-rated mania scales, and it is sensitive to change, which is why it is also used to follow treatment. It is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnosis.
What does a score of 6 or more mean?
In the validation research, a total of 6 or higher indicated a high probability of manic or hypomanic symptoms and was the recommended threshold for seeking evaluation. It does not mean you have bipolar disorder. Short elevated stretches can have other causes, including sleep loss, stimulants, some medications, and thyroid problems. It means the past week looks elevated enough that a professional should help you understand why.
How is this different from the bipolar test?
They look at different windows of time. Our bipolar test uses the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, which asks whether manic or hypomanic experiences have ever happened in your life. The ASRM asks only about the past week. A person with bipolar disorder can score high on the MDQ and low on the ASRM between episodes, or high on both during one. If this test comes back elevated, taking the bipolar test adds the lifetime picture a clinician will want.
What is the difference between mania and hypomania?
Both involve elevated or irritable mood, extra energy, less need for sleep, and faster thoughts or speech. Mania is more severe: it lasts at least a week, causes serious problems with work or relationships, and can include psychosis or require hospitalization. Hypomania is a milder, shorter version that others notice but that does not cause that level of breakdown. The distinction matters because it separates bipolar I from bipolar II.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Mania, hypomania, and bipolar disorder can only be diagnosed by a licensed clinician through a careful interview covering your full history, including depressive periods. An elevated score here is a reason to seek that assessment, not a conclusion.
If I feel great, why would I get checked?
Because elevated episodes tend to look better from the inside than from the outside, and because what follows them often is not great. Reduced sleep, fast decisions, spending, and risk-taking can do real damage before the episode ends, and many people crash into depression afterward. If the people around you say you are not your usual self, that outside view is worth taking seriously even when you feel wonderful.
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