History of ADHD

In this day and age, you would think that ADHD has1960s, the disorder was called
been aroundforever. The disorder itself has been"Minimal Brain Dysfunction". At the end of the decade,
around for quite some time,but it was only recently thatthough,the name of the disorder was changed to
it was given the name Attention Deficit"Hyperkinetic Disorder of
Disorder. Before that, the disorder had various namesChildhood."
that changed overthe years.The next event that occurred in relation of ADHD was
In 1902, there is the first documented disorder relatingthat new symptomswere added to the realm of the
toimpulsiveness. This was in Britain, and the doctordisorder. Along with hyperactivity,added symptoms
who diagnosedthe impulsive disorder was named Dr.were lack of focus and spaceyness associated
Still. He called this disorderwithimpulsiveness. Impulsiveness now included verbal,
"Defect of Moral Control" and he believed that thecognitive and motorimpulsiveness.
diagnosed individualhad a medical disorder beyond theirIn 1980, the disorder was given its current name of
control.Attention Deficit
After this event, the next documentation of similarDisorder, with or without hyperactivity. This was
symptoms was indocumented inthe DSM-III put out by the American
1922. Here, the symptoms we associate with ADHDPsychiatric Association. ADDand ADHD were two
were given thename "Post-Encephalitic Behaviordifferent diagnoses.
Disorder." What this title means I amnot quite sure, butNext, in 1987, ADD was changed to Attention Deficit
that was the name during this time period.Hyperactivity
The next event in the history of ADHD was in 1937,Disorder. The American Psychiatric Associated noted
where Dr. Charlesthat this wasa medical diagnosis, and not purely
Bradley introduced the use of stimulants in childrenpsychological. They alsonoted that ADHD could cause
who werehyperactive. I still find it interesting thatbehavioral issues.
stimulants were thoughtof to treat hyperactive childrenIn 1996, a new medication called Adderall was
when they were already bouncing offthe walls. While itapproved by the FDA forthe treatment of ADHD.
is true that stimulants calm hyperactive kids down,howAfter a period of time, it was deemed tobe better at
did someone hypothesize that this would occur? Aftertreating the disorder since it lasted longer and
this, in 1956,waseasier to come down off of. In 1999, other
Ritalin was introduced as the drug of choice to treatmedications were added totreat ADHD such as
hyperactivity.Concerta and Focalin. In 2003, Strattera wasintroduced
In the 1960s, stimulants were used by a wideras the first ADHD medication that was not a stimulant.
population. Theonly symptom that was reallyThis drug acted like an antidepressant, but increased
documented at this point washyperactivity. In the earlythe amount ofnorepinephrine in the brain.