When was ADHD first described?

Answer 1

This is a difficult question to answer exactly for two reasons: 1. Doctor/patient confidentiality rules mean that even if a doctor was the first to diagnose a patient with the disorder, he would not be permitted to say who it was. The patient would have to come forward him/herself, and most patients prefer to stay private. 2. ADHD has evolved, both in name and classification, since doctor's first started to notice patients with attention related symptoms. It is believed that a British doctor, Dr. George Still, was the first person to recognize and diagnose the condition in 1902. However, he did not call it ADHD, but rather a "Defect of Moral Control" disorder. To the best of my knowledge, the names of the children he described in his papers were not released.

Answer 2

ADHD was defined in 1902, although the disorder first appeared as early as 1798. ADHD was originally called a "defect of moral control" but it's founder, Dr. Still, knew the disorder was a medical problem, not a spiritual disorder.

Answer 3

The symptoms of 'hyper activity'were known for quite some time and included in DSM II, but as ADHD is as only intorduced in the DSM-IIIR in 1987.

Answer 4

1845

I have not heard of the date above, but I know that in the early 1900's it first (according to my resource) appeared in journal articles under the name of 'hyperkinetic disorder'

Answer 5

A psychologist.