BACKGROUND: Systematic studies of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder show that rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) range from 60% to 90%, but the prevalence and implications of ADHD in adults with bipolar disorder are less clear. METHODS: The first consecutive 1000 adults with bipolar disorder enrolled in the National Institute of Mental Health's Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) were assessed for lifetime ADHD. The retrospective course of bipolar disorder, current mood state, and prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric diagnoses were compared for the groups with and without lifetime comorbid ADHD. RESULTS: The overall lifetime prevalence of comorbid ADHD in this large cohort of bipolar patients was 9.5% (95% confidence interval 7.6%-11.4%); 14.7% of male patients and 5.8% of female patients with bipolar disorder had lifetime ADHD. Patients with bipolar disorder and ADHD had the onset of their mood disorder approximately 5 years earlier. After adjusting for age of onset, those with ADHD comorbidity had shorter periods of wellness and were more frequently depressed. We found that patients with bipolar disorder comorbid with ADHD had a greater number of other comorbid psychiatric diagnoses compared with those without comorbid ADHD, with substantially higher rates of several anxiety disorders and alcohol and substance abuse and dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime ADHD is a frequent comorbid condition in adults with bipolar disorder, associated with a worse course of bipolar disorder and greater burden of other psychiatric comorbid conditions. Studies are needed that focus on the efficacy and safety of treating ADHD comorbid with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND: Systematic studies of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder show that rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) range from 60% to 90%, but the prevalence and implications of ADHD in adults with bipolar disorder are less clear. METHODS: The first consecutive 1000 adults with bipolar disorder enrolled in the National Institute of Mental Health's Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) were assessed for lifetime ADHD. The retrospective course of bipolar disorder, current mood state, and prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric diagnoses were compared for the groups with and without lifetime comorbid ADHD. RESULTS: The overall lifetime prevalence of comorbid ADHD in this large cohort of bipolarpatients was 9.5% (95% confidence interval 7.6%-11.4%); 14.7% of male patients and 5.8% of female patients with bipolar disorder had lifetime ADHD. Patients with bipolar disorder and ADHD had the onset of their mood disorder approximately 5 years earlier. After adjusting for age of onset, those with ADHD comorbidity had shorter periods of wellness and were more frequently depressed. We found that patients with bipolar disorder comorbid with ADHD had a greater number of other comorbid psychiatric diagnoses compared with those without comorbid ADHD, with substantially higher rates of several anxiety disorders and alcohol and substance abuse and dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime ADHD is a frequent comorbid condition in adults with bipolar disorder, associated with a worse course of bipolar disorder and greater burden of other psychiatric comorbid conditions. Studies are needed that focus on the efficacy and safety of treating ADHD comorbid with bipolar disorder.
Authors: Ariel Brown; Joseph Biederman; Eve Valera; Alexandra Lomedico; Megan Aleardi; Nikos Makris; Larry J Seidman Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2012-01-23 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Andreas Reif; T Trang Nguyen; Lena Weissflog; Christian P Jacob; Marcel Romanos; Tobias J Renner; Henriette N Buttenschon; Sarah Kittel-Schneider; Alexandra Gessner; Heike Weber; Maria Neuner; Silke Gross-Lesch; Karin Zamzow; Susanne Kreiker; Susanne Walitza; Jobst Meyer; Christine M Freitag; Rosa Bosch; Miquel Casas; Nuria Gómez; Marta Ribasès; Mónica Bayès; Jan K Buitelaar; Lambertus A L M Kiemeney; J J Sandra Kooij; Cees C Kan; Martine Hoogman; Stefan Johansson; Kaya K Jacobsen; Per M Knappskog; Ole B Fasmer; Phil Asherson; Andreas Warnke; Hans-Jörgen Grabe; Jessie Mahler; Alexander Teumer; Henry Völzke; Ole N Mors; Helmut Schäfer; Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga; Bru Cormand; Jan Haavik; Barbara Franke; Klaus-Peter Lesch Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2011-07-13 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Catherine E Hegarty; Lara C Foland-Ross; Katherine L Narr; Catherine A Sugar; James J McGough; Paul M Thompson; Lori L Altshuler Journal: Bipolar Disord Date: 2012-12 Impact factor: 6.744
Authors: Alexander Viktorin; Eleonore Rydén; Michael E Thase; Zheng Chang; Cecilia Lundholm; Brian M D'Onofrio; Catarina Almqvist; Patrik K E Magnusson; Paul Lichtenstein; Henrik Larsson; Mikael Landén Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2016-10-03 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Gislaine Z Réus; Giselli Scaini; Camila B Furlanetto; Meline O S Morais; Isabela C Jeremias; Lis Mairá Mello-Santos; Karolina V Freitas; João Quevedo; Emilio L Streck Journal: Neurotox Res Date: 2013-02-20 Impact factor: 3.911