science

History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rather than just read about it. In short: Hyperactivity has long been part of the human condition, although hyperactive behavior has not always been seen as problematic. Over time, different terms have been used to describe the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

Hyperactivity has long been part of the human condition, although hyperactive behavior has not always been seen as problematic. Over time, different terms have been used to describe the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published in 1968, lists the condition as "Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood" (hyperkinetic disorder). In 1980, the DSM-III included "ADD (attention-deficit disorder) with or without hyperactivity". In 1987 this label was refined to "ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)" in the DSM-III-R, and further refined to “ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)” in the 1994 DSM-IV.

Historical cases Many historical figures were much later speculated of having ADHD. Some, such as Matthew Smith, argue that even though it is possible to observe hyperactivity symptoms on those people, it is wrong to diagnose them with ADHD, as it is a modern construct and hyperactivity was not seen as a disorder. According to Smith, cases before 1957, when ADHD was first officially described, should not be counted as ADHD. Amongst those who has been theorized of possibly having ADHD were Thomas Edison, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Byron, Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. There are also possible ADHD descriptions in artistic works. One example of literature that could fit into an ADHD diagnosis is the works written by the physician Heinrich Hoffmann, such as the story Fidgety Phillip from the book Slovenly Peter, Straw Peter and the tale Johnny Look-in-the-Air . It is noteworthy that Hoffmann founded the first mental hospital in Frankfurt and became a successful psychiatrist. Examples of plays that possibly have ADHD references are Henry VIII from William Shakespeare and Faust, from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, specifically a character named Euphorion. The painting “The Village School” from Jan Steen is also presented as possibly portraying children with ADHD, even though there is the hypothesis that the painter might just exaggerated normal child behavior.

18th century A number of early writers described human behaviour patterns similar to today's definitions of ADHD. Some of them are Benjamin Rush, Charles West, Heinrich Neumann, Désiré-Magloire Bourneville, Thomas Clifford Allbutt, Thomas Smith Clouston, and Cornelius Kloekhof. Some have identified Dutch physician Cornelius Kloekhof as an early figure in the medical description of attention‑related symptoms. His 18th‑century clinical treatise provides what may be the earliest identifiable medical account of behaviors comparable to modern ADHD.

Melchior Adam Weikard In 1775, Melchior Adam Weikard, a prominent German physician, published the textbook Der Philosophische Arzt. Weikard's text contained a description of ADHD-like behaviors, many of which are now fully considered symptoms associated with the inattentive dimension of ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. For instance, according to the English translation provided by Barkley and Peters, Weikard stated that:

An inattentive person won't remark anything but will be shallow everywhere. He studies his matters only superficially; his judgements are erroneous and he misconceives the worth of things because he does not spend enough time and patience to search a matter individually or by the piece with the adequate accuracy. Such people only hear half of everything; they memorize or inform only half of it or do it in a messy manner. According to a proverb they generally know a little bit of all and nothing of the whole…. They are mostly reckless, often copious considering imprudent projects, but they are also most inconstant in execution. They treat everything in a light manner since they are not attentive enough to feel denigration or disadvantages. According to Weikard, the treatment recommended was:

The inattentive person is to be separated from the noise or any other objects; he is to be kept solitary, in the dark, when he is too active. The easily agile fibres are to be fixated by rubbing, cold baths, steel powder, cinchona, mineral waters, horseback riding, and gymnastic exercises.

Sir Alexander Crichton Scottish-born physician and author, Sir Alexander Crichton described, in 1798, a mental state much like the inattentive subtype of ADHD, in his book An Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Mental Derangement. Crichton had received some of his medical training in Germany and may well have known Weikard given that his training occurred in several of the towns where Weikard was known to have practiced medicine. More detailed in his observation than Weikard, Crichton described attention problems as:

The incapacity of attending with a necessary degree of constancy to any one object, almost always arises from an unnatural or morbid sensibility of the nerves, by which means this faculty is incessantly withdrawn from one impression to another. It may be either born with a person, or it may be the effect of accidental diseases. When born with a person it becomes evident at a very early period of life, and has a very bad effect, inasmuch as it renders him incapable of attending with constancy to any one object of education. But it seldom is in so great a degree as totally to impede all instruction; and what is very fortunate, it is generally diminished with age.

Crichton further observed:

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

In research: History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, History of mental disorders, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in simple terms?

Why does History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study History of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

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