Bipolar Disorder and ADHD - Part 1

One of the most common misdiagnoses given to adults with ADHD is Bipolar Disorder (BD). This is often due to practitioners having far more knowledge of BD and far less knowledge of ADHD and their differential diagnosis. Yet, these disorders can also coexist; more often in the case of people with BD also having ADHD than vice versa. In this three-part series of videos, I discuss the overlap of ADHD with bipolar disorder, give some tips on differential diagnosis, and highlight some key issues n the management of this comorbid condition.

Part 1 describes the overlap in the symptoms of both disorders that can often lead to confusion and even misdiagnosis of ADHD as being bipolar disorder, when it is not. However, the two disorders can coexist in a minority of cases of each. Here I discuss how one might distinguish the symptoms of ADHD that overlap with the BD symptom list, emphasizing the more extreme and episodic nature of these symptoms when they occur in BD.

In Part 2, I discuss the percentage of overlap between the two disorders, and explain that the degree of comorbidity is often age-related. I also point out some differential diagnostic tips in distinguishing the two disorders.

In Part 3, I describe some basic issues involved in the management of the disorders when they co-exist.


References:

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