“The History of ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder”
ADHD has gone under a number of aliases since its first clinical
description a century ago. In 1902 the set of characteristics was
labeled as “Morbid Defect of Moral Control” (Oh my!), followed by
“Post-encephalitic Behavior Disorders” in 1922 (whatever that
means). “Minimal Brain Dysfunction” was the new ADHD catchphrase
in 1960, followed by “Hyperkinetic Reaction” in 1968. It was not
until 1980 that the term “Attention Deficit Disorder +/-
Hyperactivity” was coined.
Attention Deficit became more widely reviewed in the 1960s and
1970s. The focus in the 1960s was primarily on hyperactivity. That
emphasis changed in the 1970s when doctors and researchers began
making the connection between the inward daydreaming and lack of
focus and the outward impulsivity and hyperactivity. By the 1990s,
Attention Deficit became widely studied, discussed, debated and
diagnosed.
Prescriptions for stimulant medications to treat ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder skyrocketed over the past decade, as
have reports of
Ritalin abuse.
New
medications continue to appear to meet the demand. Never in
history have there been so many “ADHD” people. Never in history
have so many people taken stimulant medications for ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
Yet despite the long history of ADHD and millions of children
currently taking ADHD medications, there is still a lack of
adequate data on the long-term effects that ADHD treatments have
on children. I wonder what the doctors and parents of tomorrow
will say about the indiscriminate drugging of our children.
As the history of ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder unfolds into
the future, I would love to see yet another name change for ADHD
and Attention Deficit Disorder. This name would reflect ADHD as
more of a personality type instead of a disorder and look at
acceptance and encouragement as the first line of treatment
instead of Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta.
History of ADHD in Time Line:
_1902: The first clinical description of ADHD appeared, labeled as
“Morbid Defect of Moral Control.”
_1922: ADHD gets a new name, Post-encephalitic Behavior Disorders.
_1930s: Amphetamines introduced to treat hyperactive children.
_1956:
Ritalin introduced as a treatment for hyperactivity.
_1960: ADHD gets another new name, Minimal Brain Dysfunction
_1968: And another, Hyperkinetic Reaction.
_1980: Attention Deficit becomes an official disorder with the
National Institute of Mental Health naming a group of
characteristics as Attention Deficit Disorder +/- Hyperactivity.
_1996:
Adderall gains FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
_1998: The American Medical Association called ADHD “one of the
best-researched disorders in medicine.”
_1999: Concerta gains FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
_1999: Metadate gains FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
_2001: Focalin gains FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
_2002:
Strattera gains approval for the treatment of ADHD and
Attention Deficit Disorder.
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