Symptoms of ADHD and bipolar mood disorder are often confused — and often coexist in the same person. How to make the distinction and treat BMD along with ADHD.
by William Dodson, M.D.
20 percent of those diagnosed with ADHD also develop bipolar mood disorder
Since ADHD and BMD share many symptoms — talkativeness, impatience, bursts of energy and restlessness, mood instability — distinguishing between the two can be difficult.
ADHD is about 10 times more common than BMD in the general population.
ADHD and BMD can be distinguished from each other based on six factors:
1. ADHD symptoms are apparent by age seven. People who develop BMD typically have their first episode after age 18.
2. ADHD is chronic and always present. BMD episodes alternate with normal mood levels.
3. With ADHD, moods and emotions are tied to events, or triggers, in their lives. With BMD, mood shifts come and go without connection to life events.
4. With ADHD, mood shifts feel instantaneous. With BMD, mood shifts take hours or days to move from one state to another. 5. ADHD mood shifts are measured in hours. BMD mood shifts are often sustained for at least two weeks.
6. Both disorders run in families, but those with BMD are likely to have fewer genetic connections.