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Background: The hypomania checklist-32 (HCL-32) is a widely used questionnaire developed for identifying hypomanic components in patients with a depressive episode. Measuring and screening previous hypomanic symptoms in individuals without any definite history of depressive episode would also be needed for early detection of bipolar disorders (BDs). This study aimed at testing the clinical utility of the HCL-32 for screening of BDs in the non-clinical population. Methods: Lifetime history of hypomanic symptoms was evaluated by using the HCL-32 in 220 patients with BDs and 313 non-clinical individuals. Sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) were evaluated for assessing the discriminatory power of the scale and its two sub-domains in screening BDs. Results: The mean HCL-32 total score was significantly higher in the Bipolar II disorder group compared to the non-clinical group (P < 0.001). Most of the items (10/12) of the irritable/risk-taking factor showed higher positive responses in patient groups. Items of active/elated factor showed mixed results. The HCL-32 total score and the active/elated factor score were not adequate for both BDs and its subgroups with AUC values of less than 0.7. The irritable/risk-taking factor score showed higher discrimination power, i.e. AUC for BDs, Bipolar I disorder, and Bipolar II disorder was 0.71, 0.67, and 0.75, respectively. Conclusions: The HCL-32 could not adequately distinguish BD patients from the non-clinical adult population. However, the current study identified items of irritable/risk-taking factor of the scale that could be useful in screening BDs in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]