Bipolar vs ADHD-How do you tell the difference?

[Jorgy]

Jake's psych thinks he has bipolar tendancies. This summer when we tried Stattera he had a HUGE bepolar episode. How can you tell on a day to day basis if it is bipolar or ADHD or just plain being oppositional behavior? All the symptems for the above are so clase and seem to blur together. We did take him off the strattera and put him back on his previous meds but they are not working so great anymore. I am really afraid to try anything new after our experience this past summer. Any info for me? Thanks, Sue

[rosyred45]

Hi Sue, here is a thread from the past. I don't know if it will help, but I think it might at least a little.

adhdsupport.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=RelatedDisorders&thread=1081310557&start=0

[Amsmom]

Hi Sue,
Here is a good link:

www.bpkids.com/learning/about.htm

Lots of good luck to you, keep us posted.

[ohmama]

Jorgy,
Can you tell me what the psych is talking about specifically when he is suggesting Jake may be bipolar? Was there just one particular episode that made him say this?

What happened during the time he was taking Strattera? If he had a bad reaction to the Strattera this does not warrant a diagnosis of bipolar. What meds is he taking now and what is his official diagnosis?

Amsmom has given you an excellent website for bipolar information. Please know that you cannot judge a childs actions as being suspicious of bipolar when it is a result of a reaction to medication. The different meds mess with several brain chemicals and that could be no more than a reaction to a wrong med. What is he like when he is completely off medication? And most important, what feeling do you get from his behavior?

[AnneM]

This is an article which also helps tell the difference between the two:

QUOTE:
Characteristic for children with bipolar disorder are the fast mood swings and prolonged tantrums. While the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder in children may be similar, their origins differ.

For instance, destructiveness and misbehavior often seem intentional in children with bipolar disorder while they are caused more by carelessness or inattention in those with ADHD.

Physical outbursts and tantrums seen in both disorders can be caused by limit setting (e.g. a simple 'no'd from a parent) in children with bipolar disorder while they are triggered by sensory and emotional overstimulation in children with ADHD. In contrast to children with bipolar disorder who can continue to feel angry for hours after a tantrum or physical outburst, those with ADHD seem to calm down much faster (within 15 to 30 minutes).

Sleep disturbances often accompanied by nightmares with morbid, life threatening content (e.g.; nuclear war or attacking animals) are commonly seen in children with bipolar disorder but are rarely observed in children with ADHD.

END QUOTE

[Jorgy]

Thank you guys. You are great as always! Jake was a happy baby that was always content. We used to call him "Smiley". Nothing bothered him. But he didn't want to be held and he didn't really show love like most kids do. He never hugged or seemed to NEED my love. He got into trouble because of his impusiviness and his great imagination. He did things none of my other kids would ever even think of. He wasn't completely potty trained until he was in Kindergarten. He ate with his hands and didn't use silverware until he started school. Fine motor skills were pretty much nonexistant. When Kindergarten started the inattentiveness showed up. He also really like to play with fire and matches.
Strattera caused us much misery this past summer. Jake became violent. I hid anything that could be used as a weapon. He would attack us. I would find him crying in a fetal position. It was one of the most awful times.... He is much better on the Concerta and Welbutrin but is on a high dose and still is very forgetful and inattentive. He can also be obstinant. I just don't know about the bipolar and would have thought the welbutrin would aggrivate this but it doesn't. Tonite I had a talk with dh about Dr Amen and his clinics and am going to call for info about them tomorrow. We want to do anything we can to help Jake. I am afraid for him. Thanks, Sue

[ohmama]

Jorgy,
Jake is going to be alright. I am certain of it, let me tell you why. Because you are his mother. You will see to it. I hear the love you have for him in your words and I know what you are going through. Sometimes the fear is so strong because you are aware of what he is going through and you see him as that precious child he is. What a gift you are to your family!

I know you will get the best possible treatment from the Amen Clinic. You can check out the website in advance of your call to them and be able to ask more pointed questions.

www.amenclinic.com

You can also download the information forms they want you to fill out or have them send it to you before your appointment. Let me know if I can help answer anything. I think you have made an excellent decision.

[eaccae]

Sue - I want to applaud you on what you & DH are doing for your son! Ohmama is right - your son will be fine because you are his mother! The fact that you are not just taking the doctors word but trying to really find out what is what proves how much you love your son and how wise your are! No matter what the outcome - whether he is bipolar, if it is the medication or if it is something else - he will be fine because you will make sure of it.

I think early onset bipolar is such a hard thing to diagnose. If you just "read" the symptoms you could say that DS has it - but DS's problems are all part of his impulsive problems. It is such a weird disorder - my father and uncle have terrible bipolar disorder but it didn't appear in either one of them until their very early twenties. They were the perfect children - happy, highly focused, perfectly behaved, they both went to Brown (my father even received a full paid academic scholarship) - and then BAM! Unlike my uncle who was treated early on, my father didn't get treatment until his early sixties and let's just say I am very fluent on adult mania! But it is one of those disorders that can be "triggered" so there may be no problems and then - all of a sudden they start manifesting themselves. Which is another reason I think it is so hard to diagnose. I think you are on the right track with Dr. Amen's clinic. Good luck and keep the faith!!!

[Jorgy]

Thanks for the moral support! Have you guys used Dr Amen and his clinics? I talked to them yest and want to get as much info as possible. We live in WI and this would be a BIG AND EXPENSIVE trip for us so want to know as much as possible!
Thanks, Sue

[eaccae]

Sue - ohmama has and willowheezie on millermom's board just recently went to the new one in Va.