Diagnosis Creep, Bipolar Disorder and ADHD

“Diagnosis Creep” is a term used to describe a phenomenon where a disorder is identified and doctors then begin to see it everywhere. Two perfect examples of this are ADHD and Bipolar Disorder.

When I began working in the mental health field more than a decade ago, Bipolar Disorder and ADHD were not diagnosed so prolifically as they are now. Bipolar Disorder was a very serious, life threatening disorder which was rarely diagnosed and when it was, it required serious treatment. Now it seems that everyone who has "mood swings" has Bipolar Disorder. True Bipolar Disorder remains a serious, life threatening disorder. But there it seems to have become synonymous with the concept of "mood swings" in our culture and that is unfortunate. Adults and even young children are now being prescribed a very, very serious class of drugs which have very, very serious side effects, some of which are permanent.

ADHD has been highly overdiagnosed for some time now and seems to be equated with inattentiveness and the inability to sit still.  The diagnosis of ADHD continues to be hotly debated even in psychiatric circles as is shown in a YouTube video of a dialogue between doctors at a conference for the National Institute of Health.  The diagnosing of ADHD is very subjective and in my experience is often done by school teachers who send parents to the doctor to request "Ritalin" for "ADHD" because the child is bored or inattentive in class.  Teachers are not doctors and should not be diagnosing or recommending medication, but I've seen it happen every fall when school starts. 

Once labeled with one of these disorders they seem to stick, both in the mind of the patient and in treating physicians.  My nephew was originally diagnosed with ADHD.  He clearly had been traumatized and with a lot of firm input from his mother the professionals now recognize that he has "severe PTSD".  However, the psychiatrist continues to treat his for ADHD he was diagnosed with at 3!  The DSM IV clearly states that ADHD cannot be diagnosed before the age of 4 and should not be diagnosed until the child is in school to assess his performance there.  Yet no one questions this diagnosis.  And no one considered taking him off the stimulant which was making him come out of his skin because he was anxious from the trauma. 

Think for yourself if you have one of these diagnoses applied to you.  Read the diagnostic criteria posted on this site for Bipolar Disorder and ADHD and see if they truly describe what is happening with you.

Comments

[Ethereal Highway]

My heart goes out to your little nephew. I hope something good and just will happen for him soon. It's just not right what doctors do to traumatized people. Especially fragile little children. It's cruel and inhuman. I'm hugging that little boy in my heart.

[Kellen]

Thank you Ethereal. I will be sure to pass that on to his mother.