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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gr8red on March 29, 2004, at 22:25:24
What is the difference between MDD and Bipolar...or is there? Son was diagnosed MDD, but his pediatrician called it BP???
Posted by ryan312 on March 29, 2004, at 22:46:01
In reply to MDD BiPolar, posted by gr8red on March 29, 2004, at 22:25:24
MDD is typically used by psychiatrists to indicate "Major Depressive Disorder". Also called unipolar depression. Meaning the person never becomes manic, only depressed.
Bipolar is when the person experiences both depression and some degree of mania, not necessarily at the same time.
Oftentimes, physicians have a hard time sorting out which diagnosis applies. The patient must be observed over time. Sometimes soft manias are missed and it can be very hard in a child since the mania could be confused with ADHD.
Posted by gr8red on March 29, 2004, at 22:57:08
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar, posted by ryan312 on March 29, 2004, at 22:46:01
ADHD was ruled out by a few doctors. He doesn't seem bipolar to me...to him, "Life has always sucked, since the day I was born, and there is nothing that anyone can do about it". He is under the impression that we (parents)do not want him to be happy, but cannot site reasons why we would do this, thinks that the teachers change his grades, lose his papers, and that he has no control over anything. His therapist in the hospital suggested that he was showing signs of schizophrenia (internal stimuli).
Posted by DanielJ on March 30, 2004, at 15:20:58
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar, posted by gr8red on March 29, 2004, at 22:57:08
My 16 yr old son has schizophrenia. He was always angry and depressed starting at around 13. He would never accept blame for anything he did. He had some paranoid feelings etc. Then at 15 and a half he broke down. 9 months later he is back in high school doing fine. Taking medications Zyprexa and Zoloft the recovery was slow at times and difficult. MDD and Bi Polar are associated more with moods and mood swings. Anger and defiance in SCHIz is a common sign of onset as well as paranoia and refusal to accept responsibility. Either illness requires a lot of patience and love as well as reinforcement of support from parents. The right diagnosis, medication and monitoring is extremely important also. I wish you well! Post any more questions you may have. There are many willing to help on this forum.
Posted by gr8red on March 30, 2004, at 15:28:46
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar, posted by DanielJ on March 30, 2004, at 15:20:58
My son is exactly like that DanielJ.He accepts no responsibility. And some things he does is just odd~ A few months ago, while his baby sister was in the bath he poured water on her head, knowing that it scared her, because he thought the face she made was funny. Granted, she was not hurt, and he has never indicated that he would harm anyone but himself, but the fact that he did this is what really got to me. Doing something without any thought as to what it might be doing to the other person (sister now will not take a bath without screaming). Needless to say, he is NEVER allowed to be in the room when she is taking a bath ever again.And he cannot understand why she is somewhat scared to be around him. Not all the time, but he gets really upset when she doesn't want to hug him (she is two by the way).
Posted by DanielJ on March 31, 2004, at 10:06:09
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar, posted by gr8red on March 30, 2004, at 15:28:46
Sometimes a diagnosis on these illnesses takes a while. My son was first diagnosed SAD and ADHD. Social withdrawal can be an early symptom of Schizophrenia. Actually my son got more help after he got violent and police took him to a crisis center. The psychiatrist there put him on Zoloft which in my opinion was much more fitting than the Klonopin he was taking. After he came home it took some more changes in his medications (increase in Zoloft and Zyprexa) before he began to stabilize. As I said before recovery whether at home or in a hospital can be slow but if he is given attention and love it will happen.
Posted by HappyGirl on March 31, 2004, at 15:08:11
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply, posted by DanielJ on March 31, 2004, at 10:06:09
Hi:
In my knowledge along with my personal experience, ... most of pdocs. hesitate to tell their patients 'TRUE' diagnose, ... probably, because a serious life-change/frexibility is needed in order to adjust the 'real' diagnose, such as Bipolar(with complexity) and schizo., ... particularly in the presence of family members. Then, my parents were quite upset by this incident, even though I was in my early 20's.
Like your son's dx.,.... on my first several visits, the pdoc. informed me as ADDH, MDD and more simpler form of mental illness. The pdoc. told me the 'truth,' ONLY after all medications failed and then I started to asking/begging more potent med. upon the submission/admission on my 'true' M.I.
H.G.
Posted by gr8red on March 31, 2004, at 15:19:45
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//DanielJ, posted by HappyGirl on March 31, 2004, at 15:08:11
While I understand the hesitation of telling the "true" dx,isn't it better for the parents to know so that we can be able to get whatever our child needs? I am not afraid that he will be plagued with this for his lifetime, I honestly feel that if we can get a handle on whatever it is, we (and he) can learn from this and learn how to cope/manage with whatever is ailing him.
I am also too afraid of the Dr diagnosing without knowing absolutely EVERYTHING that has to do with my son's life. Is that normal?Would something that happened to him when he was 4 (father was basically not around for 2 years after we seperated) be affecting him still?Even though he sees his father regularly now~and they seem to get along fine?
Is that even something that could be able to be figured out? I dunno. Sorry for rambling. My children are my life, and I just want to help.
Posted by HappyGirl on March 31, 2004, at 18:54:57
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//DanielJ » HappyGirl, posted by gr8red on March 31, 2004, at 15:19:45
Hi gr8red :
One thing I know VERY clearly as to Mental Ill tendercy is to be 'genetic,'rather than situational or environmental circumstances. It means simply 'runs in the family.' Probably, someone in your or your ex has/had some sort of M.I. that is NOT necessarily 'Bipolar' your son seems to have. In my family, my 'great' grandmother had M.I., 'M.D.D.' around in 1920-30.
As to your ex's non-presence affecting your son's current problem, M.I., I am NOT sure, ... however this/separation occurred during his very tender age, at 2, then it seems NO strong impact on your son's emotional well-being. Rather, you are able to trace your son's M.I. to someone in your or ex family.
In dealing with serious M.I., such as Bipolar(serious form) and schizo., there is a VERY tough job for everyone involved, ... but the post, above D.J. wrote very precisely and articularly in regard to dealing 'shizo.' along with personal experience in M.I. very truthfully.
I totally agree.
H.G.
Posted by DanielJ on April 1, 2004, at 7:55:33
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//gr8red, posted by HappyGirl on March 31, 2004, at 18:54:57
This is a good thread! True trauma and bad environment can cause or aggravate mental illness, but most psychiatrists today recognize that BiPolar, Schizophrenia and certain types of depression are rooted in the human genetic makeup. My son's Psy Dr. was not that concerned with a diagnosis. He was more concerned with getting the correct medications to ease the symptoms of Psychosis, Anxiety and Depression. I believe that this is the more modern approach. If the patient is stabilized then success is achieved. Don't spend a lot of time trying to classify them, because it won't really help them that much.
Posted by gr8red on April 1, 2004, at 10:30:13
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//gr8red, posted by DanielJ on April 1, 2004, at 7:55:33
My mom's twin brother is shizo. He went undiagnosed for many many years before they got it right. I guess that is what has me so scared. I remember him when he was not on meds..and I was afraid of him. I just don't want my son to have any kind of experience like that. I realize that nothing from his past could make him have any of these dx's, I guess I was just hoping that there was a reason for his behavior, besides having an actual illness. Saw the psych dr yesterday..keeping him on all 3 meds (Effexor,Resperdal,Depakote) for the next two weeks to see how he does. Dr is hoping to get him off Effexor first, and then I assume the other 2 are maintenance drugs?
Posted by HappyGirl on April 1, 2004, at 14:00:13
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//gr8red, posted by gr8red on April 1, 2004, at 10:30:13
Hi:
>>>> Saw the psych dr yesterday..keeping him on all 3 meds (Effexor,Resperdal,Depakote) for the next two weeks to see how he does. Dr is hoping to get him off Effexor first, and then I assume the other 2 are maintenance drugs? <<<--- Your son's pdoc.'s approach to get off of 'Effexor' is,--- in my guess along with the experience in Bp, ... probably he/she does NOT want him to get into 'hypomanic,' because 'Effexor' is a kind 'SSRI class of Anti-dep.' and then often brings up 'manic episodes.' The pdoc.'s first strategy is to 'stabilize' your son's moods by using both Depakote and Risperdal. However, if after two weeks , your son's condition would show more improvement, then he/she might keep the same med. combo. Normally, an AP med. like Risperdal is the very last med. to add, however as seeing your son's severity of Bipolar(in my guessing, tho'), he/she had no choice but to add this med., Risperdal. Or, your son's pdoc. prefers to choose 'aggressive med. regimen' to get your son's symptoms under control as quickly as possible. In this respect, there are several opinions among med. takers whether this/aggressive med. regimen is more beneficial in the long run. In my case, Zyprexa was the VERY last med., about which I have no complain, because I did NOT need to go to the school, except a part-time work. Therefore, most of pdoc. seems to examine whether aggressive med. regimen is more applicable.
In your question concerning 'maintenance med. regimen,' .... I believe it/med. combo. has both purposes, one is in his/her effort to stabilize your son's Bp, other is for NOT get worseing his condition.
Lastly, as I said in my previous post, you may need to expect this journey to be for long period of time, ... then in my suggestion, even you, as a Mom, need some 'support' and 'encouragement' in order to go through this journey with your son.Try to get emotional help from your Mom or anyone seems to offer 'support' and 'understanding.'
H.G.
Posted by gr8red on April 1, 2004, at 16:05:48
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//gr8red, posted by HappyGirl on April 1, 2004, at 14:00:13
What is the deal with Omega3? Is this strictly for someone who is only depressed?
Posted by HappyGirl on April 1, 2004, at 23:39:56
In reply to Re: MDD BiPolar Reply//gr8red, posted by gr8red on April 1, 2004, at 16:05:48
Hi:
In my case, Omega3 didn't help me at all. Rather, it made me 'sickly feelings,' while I read that some of Bp folks have a benefit from this, Omega3.
In my suggestion, BEFORE taking any sort of 'Herb,' even 'over-the-counter' meds., you'd better to get a permission from the pdoc., because there might have some 'interaction' between 'real'/pshcyo. meds. and herb/alternatives.
In regard to 'depression and Omega3,' some of folks have a 'good' result on this, ... but not every one like any other alternatives on which some seeking for a relief from this, alternatives.
In my opinion, if your son has NO problem of taking those three meds. stated in your previous post, it's better to stick with them.
If there is/are any concerns over this alternative remedy, you may need to ask his pdoc. at his next appt.
H.G.
This is the end of the thread.
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