ADHD [LATEST NEWS UPDATE]: How ADHD In Youths Signals Impending Rise Of Bipolar Disorder

Previous studies talk about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), suggesting the disorder's comorbidity with other mental health issues like anxiety disorder or depression. Currently, there is a study that aims to determine the link between ADHD and bipolar disorder (BD) within the context of medication.

Dr. Robert McNamara, lead researcher of the study and at the same time, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience professor, said that bipolar disorder was often preceded by attention deficit during childhood and early adolescent. This happens to youths, who have a family member with BD, Medical Express learned.

McNamara added that youths who were predisposed to bipolar disorder initially presented the symptoms of ADHD. Normally, they were prescribed with a medication that was psychostimulant. At this point, they are unsure whether the medication increases the risk for triggering the start of bipolar disorder.

The director of the Lipidomics Research Program, together with Melissa DelBello, M.D., Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan, wanted to develop a better understanding on how the brain woud respond to psychostimulant. As well as, how the ADHD treatment may affect youths who are high-risked.

The researchers at University of Cincinnati (UC) will reportedly use a Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI to examine the effects of the ADHD treatment on the brain structure and function in youths with a first degree relative who has bipolar disorder. The study recommended that a close monitoring should be done if a psychostimulant prescription for ADHD was given to the high risk individual.

Sixty to 70 percent of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder has ADHD, ADDitude reported. Twenty percent of people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has BD.

It has been mentioned in some other reports that one of the reasons why physicians weren't able to diagnose bipolar disorder was because the manic and depressive symptoms of BD are alike with the symptoms of ADHD. Then, latter is more common than Bipolar Disorder.