History Of ADHDIs ADHD An Old Or New Condition?
The history of ADHD is long and storied, which refutes the commonly held notion that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a "new" or "modern" condition. In fact, in 1798 Sir Alexander Crichton described a condition called "mental restlessness" in his book titled "An Inquiry Into the Nature and Origin of Mental Derangement." Flash forward to the 20th century, and the 1968 version of the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Health Disorders (DSM) referred to the condition as the "Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood." The term "Attention Deficit Disorder" was not coined until the next version of the DSM was released. Since then, the medical terminology for the condition has offically been Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with or without hyperactivity (ADD). Historic FiguresInterestingly, some of the world's most famous and successful people, including Bill Gates, suffer from the condition. (See list of famous people with ADHD).
In addition, many of the most prominent figures in Western history are suspected of having the condition. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci and Ben Franklin are suspected of having ADHD due to their prolific and varied achievements in a wide range of topics. Furthermore, modern figures such as Bill Gates, Michael Jordan and Jim Carey have known diagnoses of ADHD. ConclusionWe have evolved from referring to ADHD as "mental derangement" and looking at the history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder it is clear that the condition has long been with us and is not a side effect of the modern age.Sign Up For The Free Newsletter!Exit History Of ADHD And Return To ADD Treatment |
