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ADHD was first recognized as a disorder in 1902
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ADHD was first recognized as a disorder in 1902
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It was not until 1922 that ADHD symptoms were described and diagnosed as "Post-Encephalitic Behavior Disorder."
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In 1937 stimulants were first used to treat children who exhibited signs of ADHD
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In 1956, Ritalin came on the market. It was used to treat children considered to be "hyperactive."
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Throughout the 1960s, stimulants were increasingly used to treat hyperactive children. In the early part of the decade, the term "Minimal Brain Dysfunction" was used to describe the disorder, but this was changed to "Hyperkinetic Disorder of Childhood" in the later part of the decade.
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In the 1970s, more symptoms were recognized to go along with hyperactivity. These included impulsiveness, lack of focus, daydreaming, and other lack of focus type symptoms. "Impulsiveness" as a category was divided into three subtypes: verbal, cognitive, and motor impulsiveness.
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In 1980 the name "Attention Deficit Disorder" was invented by the American Psychiatric Association.
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In 1987, the name was revised to "Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder".
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In 1996, Adderall was approved to treat ADHD.
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In 1998, the American Medical Association stated that ADHD was one of the most researched disorders, despite the fact that its cause is unknown.
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However, despite great leaps in understand, additional questions remain. Research is still ongoing into ADHD. Three areas of intense interest are:
The cause of ADHD
The long-term effects of stimulant medication.
A cure for ADHD
