Autism and Bipolar disorder

[Anonymous]

I just read something that a parent posted on another blog that her autistic child was being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She said she thought it was common and felt that it was the autism causing the ups and downs and not bipolar. My 12year old DD has autism and ADHD and one of her doctors thinks she has a mood disorder. She's been to a couple of psychologists and a psychiatrist, neither who have diagnosed a mood disorder. But I am curious. Perhaps I need to find a better doctor to comb things out just to make sure. One doc wants to give her risperidrone and I've read all about the negative side effects. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there a psychiatrist you would recommend in Montgomery County that you feel has expertise in this area? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

There are very few good psychiatrists in this area, especially for kids. I wouldn't diagnose your child via a blog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are very few good psychiatrists in this area, especially for kids. I wouldn't diagnose your child via a blog.

I don't think that is what the OP is trying to do. He's/She's looking for people who have greater expertise in sifting out what is autism vs. a mood disorder. Anxiety is a common comorbidity with autism, but it often gets missed b/c parents, teachers, and clinicians assume the behaviors stem from autism vs. something else.

OP, I would ask the Auburn School or Ivymount School for recommendations. It's hard to find good psychiatrists who are taking new patients, especially kids.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm not trying to diagnose from a blog. I thought it was interesting that the doctor in the blog was willing to give mess for something the parent didn't didn't see. I did not mention that the parent blogger is a medical doctor. I think it''s hard to determine what other diagnoses are comorbid with ASD. Currently my DD is on ADHD mess but would like to dig deeper into anything else she may need treatment for and posted here to see if others have similar experiences.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Bipolar is rare in children but moodiness is common with autism, so you are right to be suspicious. Dr. Adair Parr in Cabin John consults with KKI so I think she see a lot of autistic kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bipolar is rare in children but moodiness is common with autism, so you are right to be suspicious. Dr. Adair Parr in Cabin John consults with KKI so I think she see a lot of autistic kids.

Its not that rare and its often genetic but it is hard to diagnose in kids and usually they get other diagnosis that turn into bipolar in their teens to 20's.

[Anonymous]

I definitely have heard from our various experts that it's too early to dx mood disorders - between whatever dx they do have (autism, or others), hormones starting to surge, and the typical ups and downs of teens being amplified by the first dx, it's really very difficult to figure out what is truly a mood (or even personality) disorder.

So I would tread w/ extreme caution.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I agree about an early diagnosis of bipolar or other mood disorders. My DD is vey moody but I would not want to medicate unless it's a correct diagnosis. Sometimes I feel like the psychiatrists we see just want to write a prescription.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I agree about an early diagnosis of bipolar or other mood disorders. My DD is vey moody but I would not want to medicate unless it's a correct diagnosis. Sometimes I feel like the psychiatrists we see just want to write a prescription.

Kids with autism are often seen as "moody" b/c of the nature of their inflexibility. ADHD can have more anxiety or depressive aspects. Medication may be the right step even if your DD isn't bipolar.

[Anonymous]

You may consider researching DMDD (disruptive mood dysregulation disorder). Current trials at NIMH. I am a therapist. Before trying Risperidone, you may want to try L-theanine an OTC supplement that has worked well to soften outburst/mood dysregulation in some kids.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I have seen the DMDD trials at NIMH and will research the disorder as well. Is this new to the DSM? Thanks 22:23 for the information.

[Anonymous]

Risperdal is also used for kids with autism...I imagine you'd prescribe it based on symptoms though. My kid went on it recently, tiny dose, and we've seen significant reductions in irritability and aggression. This is on top of an adhd drug. We had previously tried Intuniv and I think it actually made the aggression worse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Risperdal is also used for kids with autism...I imagine you'd prescribe it based on symptoms though. My kid went on it recently, tiny dose, and we've seen significant reductions in irritability and aggression. This is on top of an adhd drug. We had previously tried Intuniv and I think it actually made the aggression worse

+1 it's my understanding that meds are rx'd based on symptoms, not "just" the diagnosis. In fact, the diagnosis I think is secondary. What's important is her quality of life, i.e. symptoms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I have seen the DMDD trials at NIMH and will research the disorder as well. Is this new to the DSM? Thanks 22:23 for the information.

Bipolar has been around many years. It generally isn't a diagnosis for kids and more for teens and adults. Most kids get anxiety, adjustment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, etc. and it changes to bipolar later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Risperdal is also used for kids with autism...I imagine you'd prescribe it based on symptoms though. My kid went on it recently, tiny dose, and we've seen significant reductions in irritability and aggression. This is on top of an adhd drug. We had previously tried Intuniv and I think it actually made the aggression worse

Risperdal can be effective but also has serious side effects. We tried for my DD and it calmed her down, but she experienced terrible side effects. We eventually got her under control with an antidepressant, but we had try several before we found one that worked.