BP vs SZ

What are the differences between Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia?  My 12 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 3, and at age 10 he was diagnosed BP with psychotic features and PDD. Today I took him in for an evaluation at the CDRC and was told by their psychologist that he is NOT PDD and probably not BP but more likely schizophrenic and would need long term residential treatment and that his academic concerns were so far down the list of priorities that we wouldn't even discuss them. She did not evaluate him personally but rather read over his testing from 3 years ago and spoke with me... spending maybe 5 minutes with my son and well as contradicting his psychiatrist (whom I don't have a lot of confidence in but wonder if he is more qualified than a psychologist). I have been unable to find much info regarding the differences between the two issues.

 

Amy

 

Dear Amy,

 

The cardinal features of schizophrenia are hallucinations and/or delusions along with what are called “negative symptoms” (i.e., flat affect, zero motivation, limited speech).  The cardinal features of bipolar disorder are manic and depressive mood states (either alternating or simultaneous) with accompanying mood symptoms.  In regard to your son, even if the diagnosis of schizophrenia would be correct (and I am not able to comment on that given my limited understanding of him) it does not automatically mean he would need long term residential treatment and that academic concerns are not an issue.  If the psychologist did not evaluate your son personally, it would be hard to make a diagnosis.  A final comment, no particular degree is a guarantee that one person is “more qualified” than another to diagnose (eg, psychologist versus psychiatrist), it matters more what the competence of the individual practitioner is.

 

Sounds like you need a third opinion!

 

Best wishes,

 

Dr. F