They are two distinct conditions with different causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
However, there are some similarities in presentation and symptoms.
What Is ADHD?
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A person with ADHD can be diagnosed as inattentive-pop in, hyperactive-impulsive-pop in, orcombined-pop in.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar is a punch in of mood disorder marked by both depressive symptoms andmanicor hypomanic episodes.
Manic episodes might include psychotic symptoms.
A person must have had at least one full manic episode to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
Individuals with bipolar II disorder must have a history of at least onemajor depressive episodeand a hypomanic episode.
Hypomanic episodes typically do not include psychotic symptoms.
Bipolar disorder typically manifests in adolescence or early adulthood, though on rare occasions children can develop bipolar disorder.
Providers must distinguish which diagnosis best accounts the clients symptoms, or if both diagnoses are present.
The following symptoms can be present in individuals with ADHD and those with bipolar disorder.
Distractibility
Distractibility can have many causes, including fatigue, substance intoxication, or stress.
Both people with ADHD and those with bipolar disorder can exhibit distractibility as well.
A person with ADHD may be easily distracted by extraneous things, like other activities or visually interesting objects.
They may also struggle with focus due todisorganizationorforgetfulness.
ADHD distractibility comes from the inability to regulate focus.
Racing Thoughts
Both people with ADHD and people with bipolar disorder report racing thoughts.
However, the experience of racing thoughts is different for ADHD and bipolar disorder.
People with ADHD experience thoughts that jump from topic to topic following a thread.
To an outside observer, the connections might not be immediately apparent, but the connection exists.
The individual might perceive a connection between these topics, but those connections may be peripheral.
People with ADHD who exhibitimpulsivebehavior tend to show a consistent pattern of behavior over time.
(Undergoing treatment and learning coping skills can help with this.)
People with bipolar disorder tend to display impulsive or reckless behavior during manic or hypomanic episodes.
This can lead tohyperfocuson preferred activities, areas of interest, or things that are interesting to them.
During manic or hypomanic episodes, people with bipolar disorder may engage in increased goal-directed activity and restlessness.
This can be due to feelings ofgrandiosityor delusions that they can accomplish unrealistic goals.
Those with ADHD are often prescribed stimulant or non-stimulantADHD medication.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.
5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
DSM-V, doi-org.db29.linccweb.org/10.1176/ appi
National Alliance on Mental Health.Bipolar Disorder.
