Is ADHD the Same as Bipolar Disorder?

It's hard to tell if someone has ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) or bipolar disorder when they have mood swings, trouble focusing, or act on impulse. These two mental health disorders have a lot of the same symptoms, so it's really important to have the right diagnosis in order to get the right therapy. Knowing the differences between bipolar disorder and ADHD can help people and their families choose the right treatment.
We know that mental health disorders can be quite complicated, and we know how important it is to do a complete and caring evaluation. Our team of mental health professionals works hard to make sure that each person gets the right diagnosis and a treatment plan that meets their specific needs. We think that the first step to getting better and living a full life is to understand what's wrong with you.
ADHD: It's Not Just About Being Hyperactive
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental illness that usually starts in childhood and can last into adulthood. The disorder affects millions of people around the world and is marked by three primary groups of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Main Symptoms of ADHD
Inattentive Symptoms in which, people who have trouble paying attention often have trouble staying focused on work, make careless mistakes, have trouble organizing activities, and are easily distracted by things outside of their control. People with ADHD often have trouble finishing projects, lose crucial things all the time, and seem like they aren't listening when you talk to them.
Signs of hyperactivity include too much fidgeting, trouble staying sat when you should, talking too much, and feeling restless or "on the go." Hyperactivity is more visible in kids, but adults with ADHD may feel restless within instead of moving about a lot.
Impulsivity symptoms in people who are impulsive make judgments quickly without thinking about the repercussions, interrupt others a lot, have trouble waiting their turn, and do things without thinking. This might cause problems in relationships, money, school, and job.
The American Psychiatric Association (2022) says that ADHD symptoms must be present before age 12 and happen in more than one place for a diagnosis to be made. According to Polanczyk et al. (2014), about 6.1% of children and 2.5% of adults around the world have the disorder. Bipolar Disorder: Understanding Mood Episodes
Bipolar disorder is a mood condition marked by discrete episodes of mania or hypomania interspersed with intervals of depression. ADHD symptoms tend to stay the same, while bipolar illness has big changes in mood, energy, and activity levels that happen in separate episodes.
Different Kinds of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder, if people who suffer from this condition must have had at least one manic episode that lasted seven days or was so bad that they needed to go to the hospital. Manic episodes are marked by an elevated or angry mood, more energy, less need for sleep, grandiosity, racing thoughts, trouble focusing, and too much participation in risky activities.
Bipolar II Disorder necessitates a minimum of one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode. Hypomania is not as bad as full mania, and it doesn't cause major problems or need hospitalization, but other people can still see the signs.
Cyclothymic Disorder consists of many episodes of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not fulfill the complete criteria for episodes, persisting for a minimum of two years in adults or one year in children and adolescents.
The National Institute of Mental Health (2020) says that about 2.8% of adults in the United States have bipolar disorder, and over 83% of those cases are severe.
ADHD Symptoms vs. Bipolar: Main Differences
When looking at the symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder, there are a number of important differences that assist doctors make the right diagnosis.
Patterns of Start and Length
ADHD symptoms usually start in early childhood and stay pretty much the same for the rest of a person's life. The symptoms happen every day and don't happen in separate episodes. Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, usually starts in late teens or early twenties. Its symptoms come and go in separate episodes that can last days, weeks, or months, and then the person has a normal mood for a while.
Patterns of Sleep
Both diseases can impair sleep, but the patterns are very different. People with ADHD may have trouble sleeping because their minds are racing or they can't relax, but they still need the same amount of sleep as everyone else to do well. People with bipolar disorder may only sleep 2 to 3 hours a night for several days during manic episodes and not feel fatigued.
Stability of Mood
those with ADHD don't usually have the really strong mood swings that those with bipolar disorder have. People with ADHD may feel frustrated or emotionally out of control because of their symptoms, but they don't feel the extreme happiness of mania or the deep sadness  of significant depression that comes with bipolar disorder.
Reaction to Stimulants
Stimulant drugs are often effective for people with ADHD because they help them focus better and calm down. But stimulants can cause manic episodes in persons with bipolar disorder, so how well a person responds to medication is an important part of the diagnosis.
How to Tell the Difference Between ADHD and Bipolar Disorder
Qualified mental health specialists need to carefully look at the differences between these illnesses. Clinicians use a number of different assessment methods to achieve accurate diagnoses.
A full clinical interview
A comprehensive clinical interview examines symptom history, onset patterns, familial history, and functional impairment. Clinicians inquire comprehensively about mood episodes, attentional challenges, and behavioral patterns in various living circumstances.
Standardized Tools for Testing
Mental health specialists use questionnaires and rating scales that have been tested to figure out how bad symptoms are and how they happen. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) helps find signs of ADHD, while the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) helps find signs of bipolar disorder.
Longitudinal Surveillance
Tracking symptoms over time is helpful for making a diagnosis since bipolar disorder has symptoms that come and go, while ADHD symptoms stay the same. Mood charts and symptom records help find trends that set the illnesses apart.
Collateral Information Family members, teachers, or close friends can give important information about how symptoms change over time and in different settings.
The Difficulty of Having More Than One Condition
It is much harder to make a diagnosis because some people may have both ADHD and bipolar disorder. Studies indicate that as many as 20% of persons with ADHD may concurrently have bipolar disorder (Klassen et al., 2010). This comorbidity necessitates meticulous evaluation and targeted therapeutic strategies that concurrently address both disorders.
Symptoms might make each other worse when both illnesses are present. When someone with ADHD is having mood swings, their symptoms may get worse. On the other hand, the stress of dealing with ADHD can make mood swings worse in people who are already vulnerable.
Ways to Treat: Personalized Care for Different Conditions
To make good treatment plans, it's important to know if someone has ADHD, bipolar disorder, or both.
How to Treat ADHD
Most of the time, ADHD treatment includes both medication and behavioral therapy. Methylphenidate and amphetamines are two examples of stimulant drugs that are used as first-line therapies. For people who don't respond well to stimulants, there are other non-stimulant choices. Behavioral therapy, training in organizational skills, and modifications in school help with pharmaceutical treatment.
How to Treat Bipolar Disorder
The goal of bipolar illness treatment is to stabilize mood with drugs like lithium, anticonvulsants, or atypical antipsychotics. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), and family therapy are some of the other types of psychotherapy that can help.
Treatment that works for more than one condition at once
When both disorders are present, treatment becomes more complex. Stabilizing mood is usually the most important thing to do, since untreated bipolar disorder can be deadly. Once the mood is stabilized, ADHD symptoms can be treated with the right medications to avoid making mood episodes worse.
What Makes Orange Coast Psychiatry Different
At Orange Coast Psychiatry, we know that everyone's mental health journey is different. Our team of professional psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists offers detailed evaluations that take into account all of your symptoms and experiences. We know that getting a correct diagnosis can be a relief and the start of your healing process.
Our caring approach means that we take the time to hear your worries, provide thorough evaluations, and work with you to create treatment plans that are unique to you. We believe in giving our patients information about their ailments and helping them through their therapy.
To learn more about the distinctions between these two disorders, please visit our website and read our full blog post, "ADHD vs. Bipolar Disorder: Comparing the Two Conditions." This website gives you more information and useful tips to help you understand these complicated mental health issues better.
When to Get Professional Help
If you or someone you care about is having symptoms that make it hard to do everyday things, get along with others, or have a good quality of life, you need to visit a specialist. Early intervention can stop problems from getting worse and make long-term outcomes much better.
Thoughts of self-harm, severe mood swings that make it hard to think clearly, using drugs or alcohol to cope, or major problems at work, school, or in relationships are all signals that you need to see a professional right away.
Moving Forward with Hope and Understanding
Knowing the differences between bipolar disorder and ADHD is a crucial step toward receiving the right therapy. These disorders can be hard to deal with, but they are both quite manageable with the right diagnosis and full care.
We at Orange Coast Psychiatry are dedicated to being there for you as you work on your mental health. Our team has both clinical knowledge and real compassion, which allows us to give you the best care possible that is personalized to your specific needs. We think that everyone can reach their full potential and have a meaningful, fulfilling life if they get the right information, therapy, and ongoing support.
We're here to help, whether you want to know more about your puzzling symptoms, get a second opinion, or start therapy. Call Orange Coast Psychiatry today to set up a full evaluation and start on the path to better mental health and well-being.