Tracking The Over 100 Year Name Transformation and Evolution of ADHD
Additionally, many of the publications on the shelves on book stores far and wide still label this mental disorder ADD. So which is it ADD or ADHD? In this article we will talk about how the name of this disorder has evolved over the years and briefly touch on what might be in store for us in the future.
Since the early 1900's our understanding of ADHD continues to develop as the name game continues to cause quite bit of confusion. Nevertheless, the current evolution still reflects some of the same ideas put forward way back when.
The real name game really didn't get into full swing until the mid-1980s when the disorder was officially recognized by the APA (American Psychiatric Association). At this time it was deemed Minimal Brain Dysfunction and Minimal Brain Damage.
Since then the APA has been busy naming, and renaming, in its flagship publication the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, or DSM for short. The dizzying array of different names seems to be a somewhat futile attempt to keep up with the latest research, or perhaps more accurately, research corrections.
The first edition released over 50 years ago deemed it "hyperactivity of childhood." The second edition published way back in 1968 around the time when Woodstock was talking place and Richard Nixon was about to become president changed the name to "hyperkinetic reaction of children" where it stayed until the third issue of the DSM was published in 1980 which gave it the very familiar name of "attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity."
The name ADD is still commonly interchanged with ADHD outside the pointy headed academic medical community.
But just as we thought the name game was over it was changed once more when the revised third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health's hit the desks of mental health professionals worldwide, and now is known as "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD."
One last twist
The moral is never say never when wondering whether the name game is over. This point was driven home in the fourth edition of the DSM when the name was changed once more by adding a slash, thus leaving us with the name AD/HD which is the current name used to describe this common mental health disorder.
For those you stuck in the 80's with those long luxury cars, long hair, and polyester jump suits left over from the 70's ADD will do.
Could it change again?
Asking whether the name will change is kind of like asking whether the sun will come up tomorrow? Even those with half an ADHD brain working overtime to provide the maximum amount of aggravation to their friends, family, and co-workers would have to agree with this observation due to the recent revelation that different ADHD symptoms probably originate in different areas of the brain. If this eventually is proven to be true there is no telling how many names attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could eventually have. That said, the best guess is somewhere between seven and ten.
If you would like to discover more about ADHD (AD/HD) or find helpful information about herbal and homeopathic remedies for safely treating common attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms such as erratic behavior, hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness Click Here
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
deficit hyperactivity disorder
,hyperactivity disorder
,deficit hyperactivity
,attention deficit
,adhd
ADHD is a problem of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or a combination thereof. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be outside the normal range for the child's age and development.
The seventh video in a series on a web site dedicated to the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder focuses on assessing ADHD. The web site is: www.attentiondeficitdisordergame.com and is an excellent resource for helpful information about ADHD.
A number of other conditions and disorders have similar symptoms, therefore, it is important for the doctors to rule out before treating ADHD
Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms manifest themselves differently in every person. One sufferer may demonstrate the inability to concentrate on simple tasks, listen to straightforward directions
ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is a condition similar to ADHD i.e. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder but without hyperactivity. ADD is a term used interchangeably with ADHD for patients not showing signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness. This disorder affects both children and adults.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a fast rising disorder becoming known to the rest of the world. While it cannot be determined by any physical symptom or indicator like a brain scan or a blood test, ADD, otherwise referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is becoming recognized as an ailment or disorder which requires treatment and much dedication for all the parties involved, not just the sufferer. ADD or ADHD may be classified into two sub categories, one ...
A fast way to get gout relief is with baking soda which I've found it to be very effective. But now that I have gotten my uric acid levels under control I don't need to use this home remedy anymore.
Gout was once the 'disease of kings' due to their diet, but not any more. Anybody can have gout nowadays. Easy access to relatively cheap, mass-produced food and alcohol has meant that we are all at the mercy of gout through our diet.
We need to keep our omega 6 foods at a minimum and include more omega 3 into our diets. Adding food items such as walnuts, chia seeds, to our salads is a simple and natural way to get our omega.
Most children demonstrate some impulsive/hyperactive behavior or have difficulty remaining on-task. Although typically found in boys, in 3-7% percent of children the inattentive, hyperactive, and/or impulsive behavior is recognized by clinician as being a significant problem that is not typical of normal development.
Tomas, a 34 year of carpenter, went to see his girl friend of six months at the end of a hard day. Noticing a strange car in the driveway, he peered into her window with some curiosity. He saw her having sexual relations with another man. Enraged, Tomas went home and returned with his shotgun.
While some people would want you to believe dog cystitis supplements are the best solution in each and every instance it simply is not the case. This is particularly true when the bacterial infection has spread to the kidneys or is in its advanced stages. On the other hand ...
If you were to ask ten people to describe ADHD it is likely you would get 10 different answers with at least 7 including hyperactivity in their descriptions. The truth is hyperactivity is only present in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder about half of the time but seems to be the symptom that is foremost in most parents minds. As for the ADHD predominately inattentive type ...
As I do every month I anticipated the arrival of my monthly senior magazine only to find in big headlines something about natural being dangerous. So I immediately turned to page 11 to find out what all this was about.
Hair loss is one subject I am passionate about probably because I have fought the hair loss battle for over a decade, and at least up until this point consider my efforts to have been a success. In this article I will offer my opinion as to whether or not a topical hair loss treatment alone will be enough to deliver significant results.
If you are struggling with excessive and/or frequent nervousness you may be searching for reasons why your diet may be the culprit of your anxiety. What I can tell you from my personal experience is there is a very good chance the types of foods and beverages you are consuming is playing some role, but to what degree is difficult to determine since anxiety has many different levels, and many possible causes including brain chemistry, heredity, and life experiences.
Discuss this Article
