PPD [was: Aspergers/bipolar

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" Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is a

pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), also called an autism spectrum . . . "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDD-NOS

Re: Aspergers/bipolar

>

> After years of trying to find answers, my son was diagnosed as one the

> spectrum by the school district a year ago. He's now 11 and has frequent

> meltdowns and tantrums that are devestating to our family. Our new doctor

> says my son is clearly Aspergers (I agree completely) but he also has bipolar

> issues. I know I'm getting hung up on labels, but is Aspergers AND bipolar a

> likely diagnosis, or is it Aspergers with bipolar characteristics but not

> necessarily bipolar? I know none of you could answer this for my son

> personally, but I know a lot of parents with Asperger kids end up putting

> their kids on Abilify which is what my doctor wants to try, and I am just

> confused if that means my child has BOTH conditions, and will therefore need

> to treat bipolar with medication for the rest of his life or does this mean

> he needs the same treatment someone with bipolar would receive, but the main

> problem is still Aspergers. I know I'm just freaked out by the idea that my

> child has not one problematic condition but two. Aspergers has its up side,

> but it's hard for me to find any way to put a positive spin on bipolar

> disorder. That one seems like a curse. Thanks to anyone who has any thoughts

> on this.

>

Your son sounds completely like my son. He has been diagnosed with Mood

disorder, ADHD, Aspergers, and recently PPD whatever that is. They just keep

piling up. As someone else had said my son struggles with anxiety, and I think

the anxiety issue is causing most of his problems. He has been on abilify in the

past, but he was aslo having strange behavior and weight gain. One day he sat on

the couch rocking and cring for no reason. He could not tell me what was wrong.

I call the doctor and the abilify was discontinued. He was just started on

Depakote and Focalin, so far he seems to be much calmer. No screaming fits yet,

but he just got out of the hospital today. Hopely I see the inprovement at home

and at school.