ADHD and bipolar disorder in adolescents: Nosography in question. [Tdah et trouble bipolaire chez l'adolescent: La nosographie en question]

Myslinski, A. Zdanowicz, Nicolas [UCL]

Objectives: The double diagnosis of Attention Déficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, and of bipolar disorder in its dépressive or manie phase in children and adolescents is quite common. The présent paper examines the clinical descriptions of both disorders, and addresses the methodological and nosological questions they raise. Method: Review of the literature from Medlin, PsycArticles and Psyclnfo data bases using the keywords "ADHD, BPD, Adolescence" as well as review of specialised référence works. Results: Whereas the clinical and epidemiolo-gical communities posit the case for a bidirec-tional association between ADHD and BPD, more thorough analyses using both clinical and epidemiological perspectives suggest two distinct entities. Accordingly, we also discuss various théories accounting for the fréquent co occurrence of thèse two diagnoses. Conclusions: The double diagnosis of ADHD and BPD not only raises several hypothèses accounting for the émergence of both thèse syndromes in the clinical description of the same patient, but also reminds us of the limitations inhérent in the nosology of mental disorders.