What is the relationship between ADHD and bipolar disorder?

Following his session "Managing ADHD and Comorbidities" at Psych Congress 2022, Timothy Wilens, MD, co-director of the center for addiction medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, emphasized the importance of distinguishing between bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in treatment. Dr Wilens recommends treating the bipolar disorder first and, once the patient is stable, then focusing on treating the ADHD. This method, he says, helps individuals to "really fulfill their potential."

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Timothy Wilens, MD, is co-director of the center for addiction medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the MGH Trustee's Chair in addiction medicine and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr Wilens earned his MD at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and completed his residency at Mass General.

Dr Wilens’ research interests include the relationship among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders; embedded health care models, and the pharmacotherapy of ADHD across the lifespan. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, concerning these and related topics. Dr Wilens is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is on the editorial boards or is a scientific reviewer for more than 35 journals.

Read the transcript here.