Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share some similar characteristics. While it is possible for a child to have both conditions, certain characteristics help distinguish one from the other:1
| Symptoms of bipolar disorder | Symptoms of ADHD |
|---|---|
| The child throws violent, destructive temper tantrums that can last for hours. The child hits, kicks, destroys property, and may threaten to harm someone else. | The child throws temper tantrums that usually last for only minutes, and he or she does not usually destroy property. |
| The child can act as though he or she is losing touch with reality during a temper tantrum. | The child does not lose touch with reality during a temper tantrum. |
| Mood swings and strange behaviors occur unpredictably—the child may be withdrawn or irritable one moment and extremely happy or giddy the next. | The child has difficult behaviors (such as hyperactivity) that are fairly consistent. He or she can get very happy or silly. |
| The child's response to external events is prolonged and out of proportion to the event. | The child's reaction to external events is not extreme and is resolved in a normal amount of time. |
| The child shows signs of hypersexuality (talking or thinking about sex, having sex, or using sexual language). | The child can show some signs of sexually inappropriate behavior, but the behavior is usually not severe or the child can be distracted from this behavior. |
| Sleep disturbances and inability to sleep occur periodically. The child often has plenty of energy despite not getting much sleep. | Sleep disturbances and inability to sleep are long-term (chronic). The child is usually tired when he or she does not get enough sleep. |
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
| Last Updated | May 14, 2007 |
Author:Jeannette Curtis
Ralph Poore
Ralph Poore
Medical Review:
Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Last Updated: 05/14/2007
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