Tourette's Syndrome is very close, in terms of genetics, to ADHD. As a result, those with Tourettes and those with ADHD may share a lot of symptoms, and it is common for children or teens with Tourette Syndrome to be misdiagnosed as having ADHD. When this happens, typically the child or teen is started on stimulant medication, and sometime within 18 months the tics associated with Tourettes will begin.

Here are our thoughts on this from our reply to a letter from a reader:

Dear Dr. Cowan, Read more of the article...

Let’s begin by pointing out that we have recently written about ADHD and Depression in Teenage Girls, and have even produced a brief internet video on the topic. As reported in that article, females with ADHD tend to have the “inattentive” type of ADHD (what we refer to as Winnie the Pooh type), where males tend to have the “impulsive-hyperactive” type or a “combined type” of ADHD (what we refer to as Tigger type ADHD). Read more of the article...

Depression and ADHD in Teenage Girls

Several studies in recent years have looked into the impact of ADHD on the lives of teenage girls. MRI studies report that teenager’s brains are rapidly maturing, but that they are not fully mature until the early 20’s in females, and perhaps the early 30’s in males. Long-term studies on behavior and emotional health report that girls with ADHD may struggle through the teen years. And other studies report that depression is common among teens with ADHD, and is so common among adolescents that the use of medications for ADHD, antidepressants, anti-psychotics, and even sleep medications, is up sharply with adolescent girls. Read more of the article...

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

Contributed by F. Russell Crites, M.S., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., L.S.S.P.

From his very helpful book, "Bipolar or ADHD: Educational and Home Based Strategies for Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and other Co-existing Disorders." Order the book here.

ADHD has become one of the most widely diagnosed conditions in the United States. Although there are many children who have this condition, it is sad to say that many who have been diagnosed with ADHD actually have Bipolar Disorder. Read more of the article...

Protect Your Child's Brain from Heavy Metals and Environmental Chemicals

The dangers of lead poisoning and mercury toxicity have been known for centuries. Read more of the article...

Similarities and Differences: ADHD and Early Onset Bipolar Disorder

By F. Russell Crites

Some characteristics of ADHD and Bipolar Disorder look the same, but have different motivations.

Others show the same type of behavior, but it is more or less intense in some way. Read more of the article...

Differential Diagnoses

There are a number of conditions that look a lot like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but are not ADHD. Here are some of these conditions that look like ADHD, but are not: Read more of the article...

• Bipolar Disorder (Early Onset Bipolar Disorder)
• Tourette's Syndrome
• Childhood Depression
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder PDD