Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences?

Posted by OldSchool on January 31, 2002, at 21:32:49

In reply to Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » IsoM, posted by Ritch on January 30, 2002, at 10:07:57

> > Just stepping into your conversation, if you don't mind, with a question.
> >
> > Why is it so hard to differentiate between bipolar II & ADHD? I'm not disputing anyone's comment about it but truly don't understand why the difference can't be seen. Is it that some people have very clear-cut differences & others don't? For myself, it's as different as a horse from a zebra. Please educate me.
>
> Hi IsoM,
>
> The fuzziness with the diagnosis is that BP-II's do not experience psychotic mania. Also people with ADHD have mood swings, irritability, impulsiveness, restlessness, distractability as part of their symptom complex. When BP-II's are hypomanic or depressed they can have great trouble focusing and concentrating (distractability). Also, there are "inattentive" ADHD people that are depressed (couch-potatoes). There is just a lot of overlap with the symptoms. I was dx'ed as BP for about 20 years, then it got switched to ADHD. Then it got switched to social phobia/panic. Now, it is all three. I have a nephew who looks and acts a lot like me and he is ADHD and is on Ritalin and doing fine. The real test is to give someone who is BP-II a low dose of a stimulant and see what happens (IMO). Give it a week or so and see how they are doing. If they are quiet and focused and sleeping normally, you could consider ADHD in addition to or instead of BP-II. If they get hypomanic and develop chronic insomnia and their distractability gets *worse* one might rule out ADHD. I would like to get to the bottom of it for sure. I still think I have both.
>
> Mitch
Wow, this is super confusing and complicated. Im skeptical any psychiatrist no matter how well trained could diagnose in this subjective manner and be correct the majority of the time. I think it would be much easier and better if you could just get a brain scan, ie; SPECT.
Bring on the brain scans. I am waiting for it to hit clinical psychiatry.
Old School

Thread

At least you might get a kick out of this Mr. Scott 1/29/02
...
Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » 3 Beer Effect IsoM 1/30/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » IsoM MB 1/30/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » IsoM Ritch 1/30/02
Interesting-Thanks-Going to do some reading on it (nm) » Ritch IsoM 1/30/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? petters 1/30/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » petters Ritch 1/30/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? petters 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? Peter 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » petters Ritch 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » Peter Ritch 1/31/02
Re: SPECT scans are around $1500 I think manowar 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » Peter Mr. Scott 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? OldSchool 1/31/02
Re: Bipolar II and ADHD Differences? » OldSchool Ritch 2/1/02
Mitch, Know Any Bipolar II and ADHD Sites to Read? » Ritch IsoM 2/3/02
Re: Mitch, Know Any Bipolar II and ADHD Sites to Read? » IsoM Ritch 2/3/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD » IsoM Ritch 2/4/02
Excellent--Thanks! (nm) » Ritch manowar 2/4/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD » Ritch IsoM 2/6/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD petters 2/6/02
thanks for 50 tips for managing ADHD (nm) » Ritch anniebananie 2/6/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD » petters Ritch 2/6/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD petters 2/7/02
Re: 50 tips for managing ADHD » petters Ritch 2/7/02
Re: SPECT scans are around $1500 I think » 3 Beer Effect VanillaSky 10/31/02
Re: SPECT scans are around $1500 I think oracle 11/1/02

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