Relationship between bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder: An exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of comorbid attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) on Bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS: Patients aged 13-40 years with diagnosis of BD with ADHD (N = 30) were compared to those with BD without ADHD (N = 69) for clinical course, functional outcome and quality of life.

RESULTS: Those with BD + ADHD had significantly lower age of onset of BD (p < 0.001), a significantly higher number of total lifetime episodes (p = 0.002), higher number of lifetime manic episodes (p = 0.008), higher number of hospitalizations (p = 0.004) and higher prevalence of family history of BD as compared to those with BD without ADHD (p = 0.043). BD + ADHD group had poor response to conventional mood stabilizers and significantly higher prescriptions of atypical antipsychotics (p = 0.001) and higher rates of antidepressant-induced switch. Also, BD + ADHD group had significantly lower level of functioning in personal, occupational and social domains and reduced quality of life. In the BD + ADHD group, 40% patients had persistence of ADHD into adulthood. Comorbid current ADHD had more negative impact on the course and outcome of BD, when compared with those with ADHD in the past.

CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid ADHD has negative impact on the course and outcome of BD.