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ADHD Vs. Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder are conditions that are confused frequently. This is because they can have similar symptoms. Being able to differentiate between these two conditions is important however, because appropriate diagnosis impacts how an individual is treated.

  1. Age of Onset

    • ADHD generally is diagnosed in the childhood or teenage years. One of the diagnostic points associated with this disorder is that the symptoms have to be present before the age of 7. In contrast, bipolar disorder, although occasionally diagnosed before adulthood, tends to be diagnosed later in life. If symptoms are showing up very early, it's therefore more likely that a diagnosis of ADHD will be offered.

    Difficulty Functioning

    • Both ADHD and bipolar disorder result in difficulty functioning. This is because both disorders are associated with a lack of concentration or short attention span. However, those with ADHD do not go through depressive phases as those with some types of bipolar disorder. Those with bipolar disorder thus may have difficulty functioning not only because of their inability to concentrate during the manic phase, but also because of a lack of energy and hope during the depressive phase. This is not to say that those with ADHD may not suffer periods of depression due to their symtoms, but rather to say that depression in bipolar disorder can be a symptom itself that affects function. Those who are faced with diagnosing an individual therefore need to consider what is causing the inability to carry out tasks, socialization or self care.

    Settings

    • In order to be diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms of the disorder have to be present in all settings. For example, an individual with ADHD must have difficulty paying attention and concentrating at home as well as at school. With bipolar disorder, this is also true, but a person with bipolar disorder may act very differently in different settings if the change in setting corresponds with a shift between manic and depressive phases.

    Primary Distinction

    • Those with ADHD have difficulty concentrating and have high energy levels almost all of the time. They do not fluctuate between periods of depression and mania the way that those with bipolar disorder do. The presence of manic episodes thus is the primary distinction between the two disorders.

    Considerations

    • It is important to recognize that periods of mania in bipolar disorder may be difficult to detect if they do not occur with great frequency, or if the manic period is relatively mild in terms of manic symptoms. Additionally, in some cases, ADHD may be viewed as a risk factor for later development of bipolar disorder, so the two conditions cannot entirely be separated 100 percent of the time.

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