Psychiatrist Claims That Many Bipolar Adu | ADHD Information
Psychiatrist Claims That Many Bipolar Adults Have ADHD
For Immediate Release
DENVER/EWORLDWIRE/Sep. 27, 2005 --- Dr. William Niederhut, a
Denver psychiatrist and Harvard Medical graduate, claims in a new book
that many adults with bipolar disorders have ADHD and are suffering
from an inherited disorder that he calls the Childhood-Onset Bipolar
Attention-Deficit, or "COBAD," syndrome.
"These adults typically experience episodic depression,
irritability, and anxiety beginning in their childhood years, along
with symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)," said
Niederhut. "The ADHD is an integral part of their bipolar disorder, and
prevents them from responding fully to conventional treatment with mood
stabilizers and antidepressants."
Researchers at Harvard first identified the syndrome in children a
decade ago, but, according to Niederhut, "Psychiatrists studying
bipolar disorders have been slow to recognize and successfully treat
the syndrome in adults. Until now, the adult form of this syndrome has
not even been clearly named in our literature."
Niederhut became interested in the Harvard research literature on
children with the syndrome two years ago after both of his daughters
were diagnosed with childhood bipolar disorders. He then recognized a
mild form of the syndrome in himself and began to identify its features
in many of his adult patients.
"I found that the syndrome is quite common in adults and can be
successfully treated, often with dramatic results," he said. "Many of
my patients with the syndrome feel well now for the first time in their
lives, without symptoms of depression, ADHD, or mania. They are also
functioning much better at work and in their personal lives."
For the past two years Niederhut has been refining his approach to
treating adults with the syndrome. He has published his findings,
together with a summary of the research data on the subject, in his new
book, "The COBAD Syndrome: New Hope for People Suffering from the
Inherited Syndrome of Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder with ADHD."
"My book calls for a paradigm shift in bipolar diagnosis and
treatment," stated Niederhut. "Psychiatrists need to do more than
stabilize moods for people with this syndrome. They must also identify
and treat the ADHD that is an integral, disabling part of the disorder."
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William Niederhut, M.D.
650 South Cherry Street
Denver, CO 80246
PHONE. (303) 331-0662
FAX. (303) 377-3849
EMAIL: WNiederhutMD@aol.com Fascinating! This is what my 25 year old's psychiatrist is treating her for. She is now doing better than she has in her entire life. He is treating her with Zoloft, Abilify and Trileptal for the bipolar and Provigal for the ADHD. I have spent untold amounts of money and time searching for answers. I finally found this pdoc. She started seeing him in January. It took several months to get the med mix right, but finally we have achieved stability.apparently you can be according to the article..
Childhood-Onset Bipolar Attention-Deficit, or "COBAD," syndrome
maybe this could explain why so many kids and adults with adhd dxs are not improving..
how did they dx for the adhd?? i know many bpolars who have never been assessed for it.. maybe the should!! Can you really be both ?please keep me updated.. this has really intrigued me..
having said that, i really wish all the best for your daughter..
at least you are positive about the professionals spending 18 years treating her like a guinea pig..
i think its great that you have found a doc that is willing to listen to you and take it from there...
i hope that this is the end of the road as far as dxs go and that from now on she will be sailing through life...
Thank you and I will.
[QUOTE=Brookelea]at least you are positive about the professionals spending 18 years treating her like a guinea pig..
i hope that this is the end of the road as far as dxs go and that from now on she will be sailing through life...
[/QUOTE]
Guinea pig is a pretty accurate description. I too hope that this is the end of the road with dxs. You never know though. They keep learning more and more. The funny thing is that with each new doctor, they were the one that "had the answers for her" and they were each so sure of it. The problem is that they always seemed to hit on a portion of the problem, but never seemed to be able to address them all. By the time we saw this pdoc, I had done enough research that I had pretty much decided on the diagnosis we got and he confirmed my thinking. I also liked his method of medicating. He began with what he considered the most critical of symptoms, the moods. He added one med at a time after seeing what symptoms remained after the addition of the last one. There was only one med that he discontinued along the way due to side affects.
ADD was my daughter's first diagnosis. She would sit in class staring off in space all day without doing anything. However, what really prompted me to take her to the doctor at 7 was her death wish.
Over the next 18 years, she was seen and treated by a multitude of professionals including pediatricians specializing in ADHD, psychologists, a neurologist, general practioners and psychiatrists in our search for answers. She has had more testing than one could ever imagine. Through the years, I kept copies of psychological evaluations, ARD documentation, IEP's, teacher and parent evaluations and anything else I deemed important. We then ordered copies of medical records covering the last 8 years, which included records from MHMR, her GP, the state hospital and Texas Rehabilitation Services (where she had recently undergone a full psychological evaluation). I provided the new pdoc with copies of these items about 2 weeks before her first visit. It was quite a stack.
During her first visit, it became obvious that the pdoc had reviewed everything we had sent him. He spent 2 hours with her that day and then gave us his impressions. He commented on the fact that she could not stay focused during their 2 hours together even though they were one on one, which substantiated the previous diagnosis of ADD. He also noted that in reading the various reports over the years, that he could clearly see ups and downs in her moods. Based on these things, as well as the questionaire she had completed for him, he diagnosed her with BPII with underlying ADHD. He then began adding meds one at a time, with the Provigal being the last. She did slip for a couple of months and fell back into old patterns (drug use). However, she recognized it on her own and is now very good about compliance. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally feel that you have a good diagnosis. At times I get angry about the wasted years, but I try to remind myself that even the professionals didn't know enough about these things as she was growing up.
Be careful . Some of the medicines cause suicidal thinking. Try talk therapy.