Apr. 18 (ABC7) — New research suggests some children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity may be misdiagnosed. A pediatric disorder may mimic the same symptoms. Now a new screening tool may help children get the proper treatment.

Dr. Dean Edell Reports

Jenn Volstedt is 16-years-old, and she and her mother, Pat, finally feel they have a handle on her life for the first time in years.

Jenn Vollstedt, teenager: "I always felt I couldn't control my feelings and my emotions."

Pat Vollstedt, mother: "I would never know how Jennifer would react."

Two years ago, Jenn was diagnosed with depression. The recommended treatment didn't help. So Jenn went to a new doctor, who asked her mother fill out a specially designed questionnaire about Jenn's behavior.

The answers gave Jenn's child psychiatrist reason to test further for pediatric bipolar disorder. It's a condition that can escalate without the right help.

Mani Pavuluri, MD, PhD, child psychiatrist: "That unpredictability, intensity, and disturbance in life caused by these mood swings can really destroy kids' lives."

Dr. Mani Pavuluri, a mood disorder specialist, created the new screening tool. It includes a list of questions parents can answer in 15 minutes. They are based on behavior typical of someone with bipolar.

Mani Pavuluri, MD, PhD, child psychiatrist: "Talking really fast, not needing enough sleep, being hypersexual, being on the go all the time."

Since several of those behaviors are also present in ADHD, there are additional questions about mood swings. Children with bipolar disorder can be very up and very, very down.

The questionnaire is scored with the highest possible total being 63, but doctors say anything over 15 means it's highly likely the child is bipolar. More testing will be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Jenn was diagnosed with bipolar, and already feels better with her new medication.

Pat Vollstedt, mother: "It was a huge relief to know exactly what was going on."

This survey is simply a screening tool. However, it's the first of its kind for kids. Doctors often prescribe stimulants for ADHD, which can make bipolar disorder worse. So it can be important to take this test to begin to tell the difference.

Experts add it is possible for a child to have ADHD and bipolar disorder at the same time.

Andrew, any links to the test available?

Not that I'm aware of...I'll keep my eyes open.

Thank you!

"The Child Mania Rating Scale - Parent Version, known as CMRS-P, is based on information gathered from parents, the most reliable source when screening for bipolar disorder in children. During development, researchers tested the 21-item rating scale with clinicians and parents of all socio-economic backgrounds. The entire scale can be completed in approximately 15 minutes."

http://www.fairyfuzz.com/immental/archives/2004/10/new_screening_t.html

I was told, by my son's psychiatrist, that he'd have either or, but they don't diagnose both. Bipolar has a lot of ADHD traits, which makes it hard to tell, between the 2. Some kids are diagnosed with ADHD before they find out that they were misdiagnosed, and are really bipolar. The stimulants would make the manic episodes worse, if they are bipolar.

I believe McT told me that 80% of Bipolar people also have adhd and I have read that else where. Is it not true that some Bipolar kids can have adhd and then develop BP when they reach a certain age?

Andrew do you have a link to the story?

Some kids are mis-diagnosed, because they are diagnosed with ADHD first, then they change the diagnosis to Bipolar. Bipolar has a lot of ADHD-traits..which makes it appear to be ADHD.

Then 80 percent of the kids, have the ADHD-LIKE symptoms, that are classic of bipolar.....

That 80% people who have Bipolar also have adhd. That a percentage of Bipolar kids will first have the adhd expressed early in life and then later will have their Bipolar expressed.

Yes there are BiP kids who recieve a diagnosis of adhd and never will be adhd but don't rule out the one if they have the other. That's what I know but I'd be happy if someone could show me otherwise.

most are misdiagnosed..because the doctors refuse to put a label of bipolar on a child,, as well. The thinking that ADHD is the lesser of two evils.. ( no offense meant).

i know in .au many docs are reluctent to dx both because of the similaritys between symptoms and the problems with stimulants and mania.

Bipolar has ADHD-like traits, so it should be one or the other. Depending on the symptoms.

Andrew do you have a link to the story?

Sorry...misplaced the link before:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/health/edell/041805_he_teenbipolar.html

i heard diff in hospital, that many times they can go hand in hand but because symptoms can be similar and meds incomatable oftern docs wont dx both...however many times both may well be prevelent.

most are misdiagnosed..because the doctors refuse to put a label of bipolar on a child,, as well. The thinking that ADHD is the lesser of two evils.. ( no offense meant).
This is true, and not necessarily a bad thing. Being diagnosed with bi-polar as a child can wreak havoc on that child's parent's ability to get insurance coverage for the child down the road if the parent changes jobs, or get mental health coverage. It also might effect the child's ability to get their own insurance later. Some docs use diagnosis that won't be seen as a huge liability to insurers. As long as they're treating the right disorder, why worry about the diagnosis on paper?

My daughter has ADHD and last year got depressed and started hallucinating. She was taking adderall at the time. Her doctor put her on an antidepressant and before long she was cutting herself and talking of suicide. She was placed in a mental hospital who diagnosed her bipolar I. She was put on 5 different prescriptions and took a trip to a different hospital where a doctor took her off the adderall and said it was causing the hallucinations and depression. We decided to take her all the 5 prescriptions they had her on and see how she did. She definitely has ADHD but is not bipolar and although she is struggling in school without the medication for ADHD she is doing 100% better emotionally. The Adderall was causing the hallucinations and depression and the antidepressant, Effexor, caused her to get more depressed and out of control.
Please investigate all medications they prescribe for you as they can worsen or even cause problems. I wish I had done a better job of that and maybe my daughter wouldn't have the scars on her arms and legs to remind her of the hell she has been through in the last year.
I'm writing this to make you aware they can misdiagnose as Bipolar when they only have ADHD as well as the other way around. Thanks for letting me post my opinion.