Development and Validation of the Deenz Cyclothymia Scale (DSC-16): A Tool for Assessing Subclinical Cyclothymic Tendencies in Non-clinical Population

This study presents the development and validation of the Deenz Cyclothymia Scale (DCS-16), a novel assessment tool designed to measure subclinical traits and inclinations towards cyclothymic tendencies in a non-clinical population. The DCS-16 consists of 16 statements aimed at capturing various affective experiences and behaviors associated with cyclothymia. Data were collected from a sample of 45 college students (26 male, 19 female), with descriptive statistics and internal consistency reliability analyses conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Results indicated satisfactory reliability and validity of the DCS-16 in distinguishing between subclinical traits and pathological symptoms of cyclothymia. These findings suggest that the DCS-16 may serve as a valuable tool for identifying individuals at risk for cyclothymic symptoms in non-clinical settings, with implications for early intervention and prevention efforts targeting mood instability and related psychopathology among college students.