Is ADHD different to the Bipolar condition (Manic Depressive)?

Question

Just looking at the differences or if they are linked as a condition

Thanks for the comments so far. The reason for asking this, is that all too often I see similarities with both conditions and I would like to know if they are connected more than anything. Is it likely that a person with ADHD will exhibit the Bipolar condition as well??

Excellent answers so folks and it is really helping me with a major dilemma. I have felt for a number of months that my boyfriend has Bipolar and ADHD. Our relationship is topsy turvy and he is very single minded in his actions. It is now at the point where I have said I never want to speak with him again, which I feel is wrong. But it is so difficult when some how you don't feel loved and the constant nit-picking and abruptness is playing havoc with my self esteem, since I have been bullied and harassed at work, quite recently and we are both on Anti-depressants, though I am now in the middle of coming off them. He has been taking them for year Dothiepin and he does drink a bottle of white wine or sometimes two a day. So I am a little concerned for him and the kids. Sorry I know this is meant to be for general questions and not personal problems...

Answer 1

Absolutely!

Because ADHD and bipolar disorder do share some symptoms and sometimes coexist, children ... are commonly misdiagnosed. ADHD is a more common condition in children and often the first thing a doctor thinks of.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is difficult to recognize and diagnose in youths because it does not fit typical symptoms seen for adults.

Research done by Joseph Biederman, MD, a child psychiatrist and expert in bipolar disorder in children, estimates the frequency of ADHD in school-aged kids at 3%-5%. The frequency of bipolar disorder in the same group is estimated to be less than half of 1%. Most of the children diagnosed with bipolar disorder also meet the criteria for ADHD, while only about one in five with ADHD meet bipolar disorder criteria.

Some experts believe that ADHD is overdiagnosed, and while bipolar disorder is relatively rare in children, it tends to be underdiagnosed. This could be because bipolar disorder typically surfaces in adolescence or early adulthood, and it is much less black-and-white in terms of how it manifests in children.

Current research suggests that there may in fact be a third, separate disorder that is somewhere in between the two.

Symptoms present in both ADHD and bipolar disorder include impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity, and both disorders seem to be inheritable.

But there are many differences, the biggest being that bipolar disorder is primarily a mood disorder, while ADHD affects attention and behavior. For example, while irritability and aggressiveness can indicate bipolar disorder, they also can be symptoms of ADHD, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or other types of mental disorders.

A few other key ways in which they differ include:

How anger manifests itself. Though both ADHD and bipolar disorder have an anger component, the tantrums of a kid with ADHD are usually born out of frustration or overstimulation; any destructiveness is also unintentional and a result of carelessness.

With a bipolar child, anger is explosive and extreme and usually triggered when a parent or other authority figure attempts to set limits; destructiveness is often intentional. A kid with bipolar disorder can sustain his rage for as long as two hours, whereas one with ADHD can usually be calmed down within 20-30 minutes.

Whether or not psychosis is present. "With bipolar disorder, a large number of kids have psychosis, meaning thoughts and behaviors not based in reality," says Stephanie Hamarman, MD. "For example, a child might really believe he has superpowers and can fly. ADHD kids do not exhibit psychosis." Hamarman is chief of psychiatry at the Stanley Lamm Institute of Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

ADHD symptoms tend to be chronic, while bipolar disorder is generally more episodic. ADHD tends to improve over time; bipolar disorder often gets worse, especially if proper treatment is delayed.

Treating these illnesses routinely starts with mood-stabilizing medications. Studies are looking into the effectiveness of other forms of therapy like psychotherapy. In ADHD, treatment may require stimulant or newer nonstimulant medications. When both disorders are present, the mood component is treated first. Studies are looking into the effectiveness of other forms of therapy like psychotherapy for these conditions.

With either disorder, the earlier you catch it, the better. Proper diagnosis and treatment not only reduces the impairment in functioning due to symptoms, but it hopefully prevents the long-term effects that may occur if the disorder is untreated.

"Research shows that having ADHD symptoms in childhood can have negative effects in adolescence and adulthood, such as substance abuse, low academic achievement, interpersonal conflicts, low self-esteem, and high physical injury rates," says Penberthy.

Untreated bipolar disorder can result in a phenomenon known as "kindling," where each episode has the effect of setting the stage for future episodes, which may worsen over time. In the case of bipolar disorder and ADHD together, there is an even greater need for careful and accurate diagnosis, since the stimulant medications that can successfully treat ADHD may actually worsen manic symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Answer 2

They are two different conditions. Both of them do have similarities in some of their symptoms, but they also have many differnces.
ADHD patients have a difficult time focusing on a task and sticking to it. They can not be motivated alot of the time to get things done. At times they can seem very wond up and cant stop talking they move a lot and cant slow ddown.
Bipolar patients have extreme ups and downs. They can have severe mood changes, anger and happiness. The have episodes of a lot of sleep and feeling depressed then go to the next extreme of having so much energy they can't sleep. They are usually more driven by their anger and are more motivated, but will make no sense and keep arguing over everything in complete circles.
This coming from a mother with a bipolar child now 13 and he was first diagnosed when he was 10. There has never been any doubt which condition he has.

Answer 3

Well, first, I would not recommend going to a doctor at this point, based on what you say. The reason I say this is that a) the wait time to even get to see a doctor is usually prohibitively long, esp. in state-funded situations b) often, after you are finally able to see a doctor, they tell you what you already know and then inform you that you are going to have to spend an insane amount of money on medications and more appointments c) most mental health professionals have absolutely no way of knowing what medication or method will help you, it is really a big guessing game. I know all of this because I have been through it and spent a lot of time and stress going to doctors that did not help me in any way, shape, or form. It actually made me feel worse. Doctors are very good for broken legs, emergency appendectomies, and other acute illnesses that have a clear-cut treatment. But with depression you are essentially a lab-rat and you can spend years jumping through doctors' hoops with nothing to show for it except more bills. I will agree that exercise can help - to a point. The hard thing is getting yourself up and out to actually do it. It takes a certain amount of will and determination and that is probably not something you have a lot of right now. But if you can make yourself do it, it can help. However, it must be CONSISTENT over a significant period of time (at least 2 months in my experience) and moderately intense to intense... that means almost every day for at least a half hour a day you need to sweat. --At least you have time for it since you're not working. The problem is, exercise may make you feel less depressed but it will not make you necessarily feel good. This is the thing some people do not understand. There is a thing called "anhedonia", which is when you just don't feel much of anything at all... nothing seems to really make you happy, even though logically it seems like it should. After many years of drifting between severe depression, anhedonia, and fleeting moments of a higher mood, I have come to the conclusion that this has to be biological. I have been reading today about the chemical dopamine that is produced in the brain. It seems that many anti-depressants actually interfere with the production of dopamine, focusing instead on trying to boost seratonin. No anti-depressant has ever worked for me and a few have induced what I can only describe as a "brain cloud" -- it leaves me to wonder if this is because those medications messed up what was maybe already a low supply of dopamine in my brain. So I am going to try taking some L-tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine (amino acids which are the building blocks of dopamine). There is some research that suggest that these can help with depression. Studies also suggest that Fish oil - or, more specifically, Omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate depression. So my advice would be this: Save a lot of time, money, stress, and heartache and skip the doctors for now. Give exercise a shot (remember, moderate to intense), try a moderately high dosage of fish oil (at least 2-3 capsules a day), consider trying L-Tyrosine supplements (take a B-complex with that to help absorb it), worry only about the most urgent of bills (your world will not crumble if you can't pay your visa bill), and stay away from any people or places that make you feel worse. It may be hard to drag yourself outside and run around the block a few times, and supplements may seem expensive, but you will gain a small amount of confidence from just knowing that you are doing SOMETHING. And that is a good first step.

Answer 4

Different conditions but both are related in that both involve the brain.

ADHD is a condition where some chemicals are missing or not functioning properly and so behaviour and concentration for example are affected. Ritalin is a common drug prescribed for ADHD.

Bipolar is a condition where a person is either highly depressed or highly euphoric and they can switch between the two extremes easily. Lithium is usually prescribed for Bipolar.

Answer 5

They are not linked. Some characteristics of the manic side of bipolar may seem similar to ADHD.

Manic episodes include the following:
Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
Distractibility, can't concentrate well
Little sleep needed
Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
Poor judgment
Spending sprees
A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
Increased sexual drive
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Restlessness or irritability
Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

ADHD:
Impulsiveness: acts quickly without thinking first.
Hyperactivity: can't sit still, walks, runs, or climbs around when others are seated, talks when others are talking.
Inattention: daydreams or seems to be in another world, is sidetracked by what is going on around him or her.

Answer 6

they are seperate!!
bipolar is a condition in which the chemicles your brain uses to handle emotions are generated at regular intervals instead of when needed to function properly. the result is unexplainable mood swings that can be contradictory to the surroundings
I.E. laughture at a funeral, or tears at a graduation.
the ammount of time that these episodes last can range from seconds to years and is easily diognosed by a qualified mental health professional.
A.D.H.D. is different. in my theory it is it is another type of dislexia because people who have it are always overactive and have a plethora of energy to waste. the things that usualy speed people up slow them down for instance coffee or ridalin ( the lab equivalent to crystal meth. ) and depressents have less of an effect, thats why most adhd patients usualy have a higher tolerance to drugs and alcohol than most people.
in closing these are two seperate organic conditoins and the only thing they have in common is that they are both problems with mental well being and that they both are not curable but manageable through medication and doctors visits.

Answer 7

They are two different conditions.

I work for a mental health agency. Children are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, and adults are more likely to be diagnosed with BIpolar DIsorder. We have a lot of clients who are diagnosed with both disorders.

Sometimes I wonder if there really is any difference, but that's just an opinion.

Answer 8

Yes they seem to be different conditions see

www.pdrhealth.com and put in adhd and bipolar in the search

Bipolar has symptoms from this list

http://www.ylcf.org/hormone-imbalance/06.htm

Miriam wrote her story in 1997 and revised it in 2002.

Stress --> Hormone Imbalance --> "Health Issue"

and indeed some are using natural progesterone to treat it

e.g. http://www.womens-menopause-health.com/Depression/type_of_depression.htm

It surprises me but nautural progesterone is also being recommended for adhd
e.g.
http://www.discount-herbal-nutritional-supplements.com/strategy_pack_products/attention_deficit_disorder_pack.htm

There are other pages for both put natural progesterone adhd or bipolar in your search engine

now that I have discovered that ...

As a preliminary do the on line hormone tests at www.hormoneprofile.com or www.johnleemd.com

If they recommend you obtain hormones please have a saliva test done see www.npis.info or www.salivatest.com. A saliva test will check out active hormones something that blood tests do not.

If a hormone is suggested by the saliva test please take the dose suggested for you. Size 10 shoes are not twice as good if you have size 5 feet.
The WHO (World Health Organisation) uses saliva tests.

A transcript of a John Lee talk - this explains why for hormones a blood test is worthless and much more
http://www.keepsmilin.com/transcriptdrlee.htm

Blood tests find hormones, but they are the ones on their way out of the body. They do not give the active hormone levels.

There is a list of doctors at www.npis.info who are aware of the benefits of natural progesterone they may be more helpful than your GP. You are about to educate your GP :-)

Natural progesterone means natural to humans i.e. identical to that produced by the human body.

For a good explanation of how vital natural progesterone is to humans see

http://www.hormoneprofile.com/howhormoneswork.htm
and other pages on this site

After having done a saliva test any progesterone you buy must be natural progesterone USP. USP means United States Pharmacopoeia. Wild yam is that Wild Yam the body will not convert it to progesterone.

Do not take fake/synthetic progesterone/progestins manufactured by the drug companies they will be of NO benefit.

Hope this of benefit to you ...

Answer 9

ADHD
ADHD to me seems like when one can not really focus on one thing at a time.
link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder

BiPolar
BiPolar is when a person goes between happy and sad at a very rapid and random pace. Usually the Depressing portion of their time lasts three times as long than the happy portion.
link: http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=nonprofbackbip015

Answer 10

Whether you decide to go the long-haul with your boyfriend or not, suggest to him to investigate "ADHD and 'food allergies" online.There are books that discuss this, and documented cases of children (as they are easier to watch) experiencing mood difficulties in connection with this very thing. It may help him, greatly, and maybe even avoid difficult medicines.