What Can Be Done For My ODD Son?

QUESTION:

Dear Dr. Heller,

My son was diagnosed with ODD and depression. I read your symptoms of bipolar disorder and I believe he has this as well. He has been kicked out of three high schools and continues self defeating behavior. I have seen several Doctors but I can find no relief. Is there any medication that could help? I will pay you to help me. My son was just accepted to college because he did well on his SATs and he is a great ball player but gets in fights. Help.

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

The key is making all the diagnoses and treating them comprehensively. Childhood onset bipolar is the most common diagnosis I see for ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). ADHD commonly co-exists with it. The screening test I use for my patients may be of enormous help to you in this regard.

An area of medical disagreement is whether to treat all the diagnoses when bipolar is present. Some authorities believe the depression, ADHD and other diagnoses shouldn't be treated also because they can trigger mania. I believe these other diagnoses are crippling and put the individual at long term risk of a ruined life. Mania can usually be controlled with epilepsy medications and antipsychotics like Risperdal. Like the BPD (which begins at puberty), bipolar is likely a form of epilepsy.

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