Clinical Interplay Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) present significant challenges in diagnosis due to their complex nature. This review aims to examine the interface and overlapping features of these conditions.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review to examine clinical overlap, common psychiatric comorbidities, and shared neurobiological bases between ASD and BD.

Results: There is a notable convergence of symptoms in ASD and BD, including mood instability and emotional dysregulation; irritability, impulsivity, and aggressive behavior; deficits in social skills and social cognition; impairments in executive functions; sleep disturbances; problematic sexual behaviors; and sensory sensitivities. Common psychiatric comorbidities and shared neurobiological basis further underscore this potential interplay.

Conclusion: Despite distinct clinical trajectories and diagnostic criteria, our findings indicate a significant overlap in symptoms and clinical presentations between ASD and BD. This complexity makes it challenging to identify the co-occurrence of ASD and BD, which can lead to difficulties in accurately diagnosing and managing both conditions simultaneously.