Bipolar Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Better known as ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often seen in children who have bipolar disorder. In fact, many children who have been diagnosed with ADHD may have bipolar disorder instead. Experiencing both of the disorders at the same time may be a distinct disorder itself.

While adults can experience overlapping disorders, too, it can be especially difficult to correctly diagnose a child, since bipolar disorder usually shows signs of development during early adulthood. The signs of ADHD, which can include hyperactivity, distractibility, and extreme talkativeness, can also be signs of bipolar disorder, and these symptoms are often present in the mania (or high) stage of the disorder. This is also part of the reason why bipolar disorder is often overlooked in children and diagnosed instead as ADHD, which is more commonly seen. In these cases, family history is especially important, because scientists have found children with ADHD and bipolar disorder usually have a family history of the two conditions.

Another reason why it is especially vital for doctors to correctly diagnose children with ADHD and bipolar disorder is that ADHD therapy alone can actually worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder. This is because conventional medications for ADHD are often stimulants such as Ritalin, which can wreak havoc on a person already displaying symptoms of mania. The key to treating both ADHD and bipolar disorder is a combination of mood stabilizing drugs and then use of a stimulant if necessary. This avoids the problems that stimulants alone can cause in patients with both conditions.

Because children with ADHD often begin to experience less severe symptoms as they grow older, adolescents who were previously diagnosed with the disorder as children and who are still experiencing ADHD symptoms may actually have bipolar disorder instead. Because they may have already experienced repeating cycles of the disorder, they may be more difficult to treat. Once the symptoms have been properly diagnosed and attributed to bipolar disorder, treatment should begin immediately. Adults with the disorder who also continue to suffer from ADHD can find relief in an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin but should continue to be monitored by their doctor.