ADHD's Dynamic History: The Effects of Continuously Changing Diagnostic Criteria

Another point that I hope becomes clear is that the changes in the diagnosis of ADHD make it more difficult to compare the effects of new medications to older ones. When a researcher or physician looks at a study of medication used to treat ADHD from 30 years ago, he or she has to consider that the diagnosis was defined in a different way than it is today. Therefore, what was considered an improvement 30 years ago may not be the same as what is considered an improvement today, in part because the diagnosis is made differently, and in part because the factors that define an improvement may have also changed.

Lastly, despite all the changes in how the diagnosis of ADHD is made, the scientific community continues to acknowledge that problems of inattention and hyperactivity can lead to serious suffering and long term problems which can be helped with treatment. The first reported evidence of stimulant medication used to treat children with concentration and hyperactivity problems came in 1937 when C. Bradly showed that children in a residential facility with such symptoms had improvement in their symptoms with a compound called benzedrine. These findings have had a significant impact on child psychiatry, and will be the topic of a future entry. As always..I look forward to your comments and questions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but please note that you should talk to your physician if you have specific questions about your or your loved ones' specific mental health concerns.