Carol - did you know they're working on a saliva test and a blood test for sz? I don't know a ton about either - even whether they're at all reliable. (Mental note...I need to look back into that!)

Okay... back to the question at hand.

Taylor was dx'd ADHD at 7 in first grade. Was put on Ritalin. I was never satisfied with this dx alone - he seemed so dark and sad all the time. Therapist agreed and he was in therapy for a couple years on and off dx'd ADHD and depression but they didn't mention or try an antidepressant. Age 9 things plummeted for Taylor in school and mood wise. He was SOOOOOO depressed, agitated, oppositional. Suicide Ideation. Was dx'd ADHD, depression and ODD. Continued ADHD meds. Then things got way worse - 9 1/2 and they added Zoloft. Best three months of our lives - then the bottom fell out. First hospitalization, dx changed to ADHD, Mood disorder "not otherwise specified", ODD, IED (intermittent explosive disorder), GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), SAD (separation anxiety disorder), and OCD. Can you believe that list? He was left on the ADHD med and zoloft with a small tweak adding tenex I believe it was. At that time the doc said - this "list" of diagnoses essentially make up the components of bipolar, but we don't dx that in children this young. Almost a year later before we got the proper diagnosis and a mood stabilizer. Lots of phone calls, research, fretting, crying, begging for help on my part in that year. Worst year of my life - and I'll venture a guess the worst year in Taylor's too. Hopefully the worse he'll ever see :crossed