| ADHD has clearly been around for quite some time, | | | | symptom that was really documented at this point |
| but it was only recently given the name Attention | | | | was hyperactivity. During these years, stimulants were |
| Deficit Disorder. Previously, the disorder had various | | | | used by a wider population. |
| names, which changed over the years. | | | | Somewhat later, new symptoms were added to this |
| A disorder relating to impulsiveness was first | | | | hyperactivity disorder: lack of focus and "spaceiness" |
| documented in 1902, in Britain. It was diagnosed by Dr. | | | | associated with impulsiveness. Impulsiveness now |
| Still, who called it "Defect of Moral Control" and | | | | included verbal, cognitive and motor impulsiveness. |
| believed that the diagnosed individual had a medical | | | | In 1980, the disorder was given its current name of |
| disorder beyond their control. | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity. |
| The next documentation of similar symptoms was in | | | | This was documented in the DSM-III put out by the |
| 1922; here, the symptoms we associate with ADHD | | | | American Psychiatric Association, with ADD and |
| were given the name "Post-Encephalitic Behavior | | | | ADHD being two different diagnoses. |
| Disorder". | | | | Next, in 1987, ADD was changed to Attention Deficit |
| The next event in the history of ADHD was in 1937, | | | | Hyperactivity Disorder. The American Psychiatric |
| where Dr. Charles Bradley introduced the use of | | | | Association noted that this was a medical diagnosis, |
| stimulants in children who were hyperactive. It is | | | | and not a purely psychological one. It also noted that |
| interesting that stimulants were used to treat | | | | ADHD could cause behavioral issues. |
| hyperactive children, when these were already | | | | In 1996, a new medication called Adderall was |
| bouncing off the walls. While it is true that stimulants | | | | approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD. |
| calm down hyperactive kids, how did someone | | | | After a period of time, it was thought to be better at |
| hypothesize that this would occur? About two | | | | treating the disorder, since its effect lasted longer and it |
| decades later, in 1956, Ritalin was introduced as the | | | | was easier to come down off of. In 1999, other |
| drug of choice to treat hyperactivity. | | | | medications were added to treat ADHD such as |
| In the early 1960s, the disorder was called "Minimal | | | | Concerta and Focalin. In 2003, Strattera was |
| Brain Dysfunction". At the end of the decade, though, | | | | introduced as the first ADHD medication that was not |
| the name of the disorder was changed to | | | | a stimulant, but rather, it acted like an antidepressant, |
| "Hyperkinetic Disorder of Childhood". The only | | | | but increased the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. |