The symptoms of the four most prevalent mental-health conditions are not always easy to tease apart, especially in children. As you can see from the following checklists, some symptoms and behavior patterns are shared by more than one condition.

Parents can use these checklists to examine their child's behavior and make a preliminary decision about whether they need help from a health-care professional. In general, if a child or teen persistently has several of the following symptoms for more than a few weeks, and if the symptoms are severe enough to cause disruption at home and school, it's important to follow up.

ADHD	Anxiety	Bipolar Disorder	Depression
• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair • Doesn't pay attention to details, makes frequent careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities • Has difficulty sustaining attention and listening when spoken to directly • Unable or slow to organize or complete assignments and tasks • Loses things necessary for tasks or activities • Easily bored or distracted by sights or sounds • Tendency to daydream • Difficulty waiting turn to speak, interrupts or intrudes on others • Talks excessively, rapidly, or on impulse blurts out answers before questions have been completed • Is "on the go" or acting as if "driven by a motor" much of the time. Leaves seat or runs around excessively in classroom or similar situations • Is hot-tempered and easily agitated or angered • Has difficulty quietly engaging in leisure activities • Has low tolerance for stress	• Excessive worry; feelings or a sense of anxiousness that have bothered you every day for the past 3 or 6 months • Feelings of irritability and agitation • Occasional feelings of panic, fear, or dread • Not being able to relax; persistent feelings of restlessness or of being hyperalert • Poor attention • Tires easily; sleeps poorly • Low tolerance for stress • Difficulty concentrating	In the mania phase: • Excessive elation, exuberance, and euphoria • Hyperactivity • Racing thoughts • Aggressive behavior • Increased talking • High energy • Grandiose notions • Decreased need for sleep • Inappropriate social behavior • Easily distracted • Poor ability to concentrate In the depressive phase: • Same symptoms as in Depression column	• Feelings of unhappiness, hopelessness, pessimism • Feelings of low self-esteem, worthlessness, guilt • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities you usually enjoy • Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down" • Insomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions • Appetite changes—eating significantly less or more • Irritability, restlessness, hostility • Feeling anxious; low tolerance for stress • Trying to harm yourself or thinking about suicide • Unexplained physical symptoms or pains—such as headache, chronic indigestion or pain—that do not respond to treatment