Diagnosing and Differentiating ADHD and the Bipolar (And Some Other Stuff)
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Diagnosing and Differentiating ADHD and The Bipolar (and some other stuff) ADAM ANDREASSEN, PSY.D. Objectives of Presentation Experience a more comprehensive conceptualization of research-relevant symptoms related to both ADHD and Bipolar Disorder as well as PTSD that goes beyond the narrow framework of the DSM Improve clinical interviewing skills in order to focus on asking the questions that most likely illicit relevant information Become more familiar with the assets and limitations of inventories and psychological testing results. Become more competent in ruling in or ruling out other co-morbid conditions. May I have fries with that Ritalin? 700% increase of Ritalin prescribed in the US since 1995 Everyone Thinks They Are Knowledgeable About Each Disorder Common Overlapping Symptoms in Medical Field Appendicitis Fever Strep Throat Geller & DelBello, 2008 Common Overlapping Symptoms in Psychological Symptoms Irritability and Hyperactivity Mania (elated mood and grandiosity) Major ADHD Depressive (no Disorder cardinal (low mood symptoms) and anhedonia) Autism (communication and social deficits) Geller & DelBello, 2008 A 2012 New York Times Article Suggested: An estimated 3 Million children in the U.S. take drugs for problems focusing. Twentyfold increase in use of ADHD drugs over last 30 years Where are we heading? Prevalence Rates 1% 8% Barkley, 2006 Comorbidity with ADHD Anxiety disorder: 10-50% MDD: 15-75% Bipolar I: 6-27%; (BAD I carries a very high risk for comorbid ADHD, even though ADHD carries a low risk for BAD I) ODD: Up to 85% Conduct Disorder: 15-56% (worse prognosis) PTSD may be circular with ADHD: 1-6% Tourette syndrome or tick disorder: 12-34% PDD: Up to 26% (Barkley, 2006) History and Features of ADHD Around WWI ADHD symptoms were often associated with an outbreak of encephalitis Clinicians began to see similar symptoms in other organic based disorders (brain injured child, MBD) Also “spoiled child” syndrome 1930’s began to notice improved effects with amphetamine use to control headaches Barkley 2006 History and Features of ADHD 1950’s movement to hyperkinetic impulse disorder Later in the decade more specific learning problems were identified rather than generalizing MBD 1970’s began to focus on impulsivity as well 1980’s focus on attention problems Later focus on educational needs 21st century continues to look at further subtypes Barkley 2006 The word “manic” traces back to Ancient Greek. Mania and melancholia have been tied together for centuries Biphasic Mental Illness causing recurrent oscilliations between mania and depression (1854 Jules Baillarger). Emil Kraepelin coined term manic depressiion (1900’s) 1952 placed in the Diagnostic Manual History and Features of Bipolar Disorder No early differentiation between unipolar and bipolar Both were considered manic-depressive illness More recent research has also noted some differences in the energy components between unipolar and bipolar depressed patients Bipolar disorder has been seen to have a greater genetic link than unipolar depression However, conflicting results have been found with relatives of “well- defined” unipolar depressives rarely exhibiting bipolar disorder Could occur on a polygenic or continuous spectrum: Unipolar Bipolar Adams and Sutker (2001) History and Features of Bipolar Disorder Cyclicity can range from less than 48 hours to several years High degree of inter-individual variability Typical cycle length of Bipolar disorder is less than in unipolar major depression 13-20% rapid cycling (≥4 depressed or manic episodes per year) Adams and Sutker (2001) History and Features of Bipolar Disorder Rapid cycling is more common among women Initial mood episode is usually depressive Rapid cycling generally develops later Later age of manic onset may be an indication of secondary mania and can be indistinguishable from patients with primary mania Can also occur during schizoaffective disorder Difficulty in distinguishing from Borderline Personality disorder Some view BPD as subsyndromal mood disorder and some assert they can coexist, data is unclear due to overlapping symptom presentation Adams and Sutker (2001) Features of Bipolar I Disorder Approximately 10-15% of adolescents with recurrent MDE will develop Bipolar, mixed episodes may be more likely in adolescents and young adults First episode in males more likely to be manic and in females depressed Completed suicide occurs in 10-15% More likely to occur in mixed or depressive state APA 2000 Features of Bipolar Onset after 40 should alert that there may be a general medical condition or substance issue Bipolar II may be more common in women Cyclothymic disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adult life APA 2000 Neurobiological Aspects of Bipolar Disorder Theory of kindling Somewhat controversial Important to assumptions of early psychosocial interventions First applied to seizure disorders Combination of stress and genetic vulnerability leads to greater destabilization until full onset Brain becomes further sensitized with each episode until spontaneous occurrence without stressors Will result in less inter-episodic recovery time and treatment resistance Geller & DelBello, 2008 History and Features of Bipolar Disorder Unipolar depression is more prevalent among women but Bipolar is more evenly distributed by gender However, a major Amish study found no gender differences Age and hospitalization trends 1. First unipolar hospitalization tends to occur between 40 and 49 2. First bipolar hospitalization tends to occur between 20 and 29 According to NIMH: 1. Median age of onset for unipolar depression is 25 2. Median age of onset for bipolar is 19 Adams and Sutker (2001) Deception in Assessing Children and Adolescents Historically children have been viewed as honest reporters However, most clinicians have encountered children who deny disruptive behaviors or claim mental illness contrary to findings Rogers (2008) Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Deception Study of 53 dually diagnosed offenders found malingering to be 15%, similar to adult offenders Other studies have found 8% of children have engaged in acquiescence and 10% in nay-saying during psychological assessment 8% attempted to please the interviewer 14% provided guarded responses 12% of 6 to 8-year-olds presented a socially desirable set of responses Assessment must discern minimal denial and "white lies” from exaggerated reporting and extreme denial Rogers (2008) Reasons for Types of Deception in Children and Adolescents Children (and their parents on their behalf) may be motivated to malinger symptoms to gain external incentives or deny symptoms to avoid consequences Conduct Disorder adolescents may feign ADHD to obtain medication May feign symptoms to avoid school work or avoid peer difficulty Influence custody decisions Avoid juvenile justice system Gain academic accommodations Gain money and services Manage peer status Unintentional parent and child misrepresentation Rogers (2008) ADHD and Bipolar ADHD has a small risk for Bipolar Disorder (6-27%) Children with early-onset Bipolar Disorder have a very high probability (91-98%) of meeting the criteria for ADHD HOWEVER, once subtracting out symptom overlap only about ½ of ADHD and Bipolar children retained the Bipolar Diagnosis 6-10% of children may have legitimate comorbidity Follow-up studies have also been inconclusive (Barkley, 2006) Manic Episode Distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood for 1 week (unless hospitalization is necessary) Three or more (4 if just irritable) and PRESENT TO A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE 1. Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity 2. Decreased NEED for sleep 3. More talkative than USUAL 4. Flight of ideas or racing thoughts 5. Distractibility 6. INCREASE in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation 7. Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities with a high potential for painful consequences Not a MDE Marked impairment or hospitalization Not due to drugs or GMC Where are we heading? Conceptual Features of ADHD Fidgety Phil- Hoffman 1865 Still and Tredgold were the first to focus clinical attention on the condition in the turn of the 20th century Still noticed problems with attention and impulsivity, and noted relationships with defiance and delinquency Believed they were driven by immediate gratification and many were insensitive to punishment “defect in moral control” Considered that some of the problem may be a secondary response to an acute brain disease that may remit, and noted it affected mentally retarded as well as typical intellect (Barkley, 2006) Conceptualizing ADHD In infancy: 1. Exhibit poor and irregular sleep 2. Colic 3. Feeding problems 4. Dislike being cuddled or held still for long Toddler: 1. Driven to run rather than walk 2. Driven to handle everything Major problems as adults: 1. Low self-esteem 2. Poor social skills Kolb & Whishaw (2003) Distinctive ADHD Features Elementary school: 1. Demanding 2. Oppositional 3. Do not play well with others 4. Poor tolerance of frustration, high level of activity, poor concentration, and poor self-esteem may lead to a referral Adolescence: 1. May be failing school 2. 25-50% have encountered legal problems 3. Withdraw from school 4. Fail to develop social relations and maintain steady employment Kolb & Whishaw (200) Different Types of ADHD ADHD, Inattentive Type ADHD, Sluggish Cognitive Tempo ADHD, Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD, Combined