I was dx with BP last year and have been on Lamictal since June. I more or less dx myself as having ADHD, though my psych most likely agrees as it Rx Vyvanse.

Is it common for BP and ADHD to co-exist? I know BP can mimic ADD/ADHD but my ADHD symptoms never improved with just Lamictal. I have almost every classic characteristic of ADHD and frankly, it's a relief to know that I'm not crazy - although I feel like it sometimes.

I'm not sure of the statistics of co-morbidity of the two, but I do know that many adults with ADHD also have another co-existing disorder. ADHD and bipolar are very common on this forum! Welcome!

yea, you can have both. But if you are just bipolar the ADD like symptoms usually go away once the mood is stabilized.

It is the most common of the co-existing conditions.

ADHD and Comorbidities in Children and Adults

A majority of children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD are affected by other comorbid psychiatric conditions. The type of comorbidity varies and includes learning problems, anxiety disorders, unipolar and bipolar mood disorders, conduct and antisocial personality disorders, and substance use disorders.[1-6] Most recently, Adler and colleagues[7] reported data from the National Comorbidity Study Replication, indicating that 32% of ADHD patients also meet criteria for unipolar depression; 21.2% meet criteria for bipolar disorder; and 9.5% meet criteria for anxiety disorders.


ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

One of the most controversial issues in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is the extent to which bipolar disorder co-occurs in patients. The rates of bipolar disorder in children with ADHD vary widely and depend in part on how the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made, although most recognize that there is a subgroup of children who present with affective lability that is especially challenging for the clinician.[10] Conversely, in samples of children with well-characterized bipolar disorder, the rate of ADHD has been reported to be as low as 4% and as high as 38%.[11,12] The lifetime rate of ADHD in adult patients with bipolar disorder has been estimated to be 10%.[3] These variations in prevalence estimates underscore some of the controversies associated with the identification and diagnosis of this comorbidity. As such, one must consider the empirical evidence for making such a challenging differential diagnosis. For example, one study found that the symptoms of elation, grandiosity, flight of ideas/racing thoughts, less need for sleep, and hypersexuality were best for distinguishing between ADHD and bipolar disorder in a sample of prepubertal and adolescent youth. However, this same study found that the symptoms of irritability, hyperactivity, accelerated speech, and distractibility were all common in both bipolar disorder and ADHD, and were therefore not as useful for making good differential diagnoses.[13]

With respect to treating comorbid ADHD and bipolar disorder, several studies have shown that concomitant treatment with a mood stabilizer (such as divalproex sodium) and an approved ADHD medication (such as MAS or atomoxetine) can be effective for treating symptoms of both disorders and reducing impairment.[14,15] Studies such as these are promising in light of previous concerns that treatment of ADHD with stimulant drugs in comorbid bipolar patients could exacerbate or trigger manic symptoms. Much controversy remains to be resolved regarding the prevalence, phenomenology, and treatment of comorbid ADHD and bipolar disorder in children and adults. Regardless, clinicians need to be aware that the conditions can co-occur and should carefully consider pharmacologic options for patients presenting with both disorders.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549973

It's already been very well articulated by Andi,who has great expertise in this area.

The most succinct explantion I've seen is the data by Barbara Geller (2003).

She reports on what is now commonly referred to as a "One Way Comorbidity."

This refers to those data supporting over 90% ( I've read studies reporting anywhere between 92-97%) of children/ adolescents with (Pediatric) Bipolar Disorder also having ADHD, while the opposite isn't true.

Virtually no one with ADHD has Bipolar Disorder.

While there's no definitive test for either disorder, the study discusses the empirically (research) supported characteristics found to accurately distinguish between the 2 groups.

Please check it out when you can.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)