Comorbidities of Bipolar Disorder

Look for physical as well as mental health comorbidities when evaluating bipolar disorder. There are overlapping symptoms that may prevent a complete diagnosis. A psychiatrist prescribes different treatment for bipolar disorder when it is comorbid with a second condition.

Expert Insight

• People with mental illness often feel isolated.

  S.L. McElroy, said in an article on PubMed, Diagnosing and treating comorbid (complicated) bipolar disorder, that, "Comorbidity is the rule, not the exception, in bipolar disorder."

ADHD

• A helping hand.

  Dr. Scheffer, director of child and adolescent psychiatry training at the University of Texas, agrees that bipolar disorder is comorbid to ADHD. He said, (ADHD) "co-occurs with pediatric bipolar disorder in 29 percent to 98 percent of patients,"

Anxiety

• Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and conducted by nine professionals, found that "An independent association of comorbid anxiety with greater severity and impairment in bipolar disorder patients was demonstrated,"

Physical Comorbidities

• According to V. Gentil, "The physical health of patients with bipolar disorder should be monitored, because this population is at risk for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and associated conditions."

Addiction

• First beer of the night.

  Adults with bipolar disorder are at very high risk of developing a substance abuse problem, according to the NIMH