Deborah asks…

Can overlooked hyperthyroid be misdiagnosed as bipolar for years before it’s recognized as the problem?

Dr. Fink answers…

Good question, Deborah. Yes, as we point out in Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, the thyroid gland has a tremendous influence on moods and on the effectiveness of medications used to treat mood disorders. Other physical ailments can also produce or contribute to bipolar-like symptoms in a person who does not have bipolar disorder.

We devoted an entire chapter to this topic: Chapter 4, “Let’s Get Physical: Ruling Out Other Health Issues.” The chapter includes a section listing the most common non-bipolar illnesses that may produce bipolar-like symptoms and a section that specifically addresses thyroid tests and other medical tests that should be performed prior to establishing a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

This is why it is so important early on to obtain a differential diagnosis – the process of distinguishing between two or more illnesses that feature identical or similar symptoms.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (April 27, 2010)

    Last reviewed: 27 Apr 2010