ADHD and bipolar disorder challenge in diagnosis in children and adolescents

Abstract

Introduction

The professionals in charge of children and adolescents with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be prepared to treat a wide variety of psychiatric symptoms, as most have at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder.

Sometimes the differential diagnosis between ADHD and bipolar disease is difficult because of overlapping symptoms between the two disorders (Geller et al., 1997; Biederman et al., 2000; Singh et al., 2006).

Methodology

A literature review about the comorbidity between ADHD and bipolar disorder in children and adolescents was performed.

Results

According to different studies, between 60 and 90% of children and adolescents with ADHD have comorbid bipolar disorder. However, the percentage of children and adolescents with ADHD that has comorbid bipolar disorder varied from 10 to 22% (puedes poner from 60 to 90% si no quieres repetir el and).

Conclusions

The prevalence of bipolar disease, particularly among adolescents, is between 1 and 7%. This percentage is higher if all forms of bipolar spectrum are included. Some personal and family factors increase the probability of a patient having ADHD present bipolar disease: decreased IQ, delayed development, family history of ADHD or bipolar disease, and the combined subtype.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.