The largest study ever to track bipolar disorder and schizophrenia within families offers evidence that the two psychiatric disorders share a common genetic cause.

The psychiatric community has long debated whether or not schizophrenia and bipolar are related..and if they are, how interconnected were they? Are they two distinct disorders or not?

Many bipolar patients have symptoms that are characteristic of schizophrenia. Scientists wanted to know: Where is the line between bipolar and schizophrenia?

» Continue reading “Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder – How Linked are They?”

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Patty Duke wrote a book a few years back about her struggle with Bipolar Disorder called A Brilliant Madness.  She explains her struggle beautifully and shows how she nearly lost her life, but ultimately conquered in the end.  Everyone who has bipolar disorder or has a family member with bipolar disorder should read this book.

» Continue reading “A Brilliant Madness”

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There are a lot of folks out there who are searching for information on Bipolar ADHD.  In fact, the two are quite related! There are many similarities including impulsiveness, hyperactivity, frequent changes in mood and behavior and learning problems. Other similarities include restless sleep and family histories that include both disorders.  Many times doctors and patients have a hard time telling bipolar disorder and ADHD apart.

There are several differences between Bipolar and ADHD that you can look for.

1. Destructiveness – Children with ADHD tend to break things because they are careless or moving to fast to be careful with their things.  Bipolar children often break things out of anger.
2. Anger – Anger in people with ADHD tends to last 20 minutes or less and then they will move on to another emotion, or simply get over it. Those with bipolar have trouble overcoming anger and will tend to be angry for 30 minutes up to 2 hours.
3. Sleep Patterns – Those with ADHD often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.  Those with Bipolar Disorder often tend to wake up due to nightmares and often have a fear of falling asleep.
4. Treatment – Lithium will often help those with Bipolar Disorder but usually has no effect on those with ADHD.

Though there are many differences in Bipolar and ADHD, these two disorders can occur simultaneously in an unfortunate few.  This is often very difficult to diagnose.  ADHD gets diagnosed much more freqently than bipolar disorder and there are many physicians who think that those with bipolar often get misdiagnosed with ADHD.  This is why it is very important to find a doctor who will listen closely to what you are saying and do a thorough evaluation.

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Many people write to me and ask if I can help them figure out if they have bipolar disorder.  I alway recommend that they see a qualifed doctor, but folks still want a bipolar disorder questionnaire.  So, for those people, I STILL recommend that you see a doctor, but here is a littel questionnarie for you to look at in the meantime.

1. Do you sometimes realize that you are talking very fast and that your mind is racing?

2. Do friends and family often tell you that you are exhausting to be around?

3. Do you go through periods where I get lots and lots of work done, followed by periods where I don’t want to do anything at all?

4. Do you frequently feel as though your mind is racing and you are very irritable?

5. Do you often experience days of extreme sadness or depression?

6. Do your mood swings affect your quality of life?

7. Are you highly interested in sex during some periods, causing you to do things that you would not normally do?

8. Do you have extreme variations in the quality of work that you put out?

9. Do you sometimes, for no reason, feel very hostile or angry?

10. Do you have periods when you feel as if you are in a mental fog and other periods when you feel extremely creative?

If you answered yes to at least 6 of these questions, you might have bipolar disorder.  This is in no way a diagnosis.  You should still see a qualified physician – the sooner the better. 

If you have friends or family that you suspect have bipolar disorder, send them this bipolar disorder questionnaire to answer and you might be able to open their eyes. 

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