Trouble hyperactif avec déficit de l'attention et trouble bipolaire sont-ils liés ?

Whether Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder are related syndrome in young people is currently debated. The present report critically reviews the available literature on the topic. The prevalence rate of ADHD is 5 to 9% among school children of the general population, while the rate is 0.3% for bipolar disorder in the child and adolescent population. The relationship between both disorders is difficult to assess as several symptoms do overlap. The clinical course is continuous in ADHD child whereas it is rather episodic and discontinuous in bipolar adolescent. In psychiatric setting, comorbidity between the two disorders has only been reported by one group -11% in outpatients and 22% in hospitalized patients presenting ADHD- but these results were methodologically discussed. Similarly, in longitudinal studies of ADHD, cases of comorbidity with bipolar disorder have only been reported by the same group. The hypothesis of common vulnerability factors shared by these disorders, including common genetic factors, is not validated. However, cases of patients presenting ADHD and bipolar disorder may be encountered in paediatric and psychiatric settings. We will report one of such cases that will introduce the discussion.