Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), is one of the most controversial disorders of our time. Given the heterogeneity of the syndrome, many consider it an unambiguous diagnosis for problematic children.

In addition, there is a lack of common criteria within the scientific community to make a clear diagnosis. The current medication does not guarantee a solution, because the origin or cause of the condition is unclear.

Treatment, derived from amphetamines or drugs known as stimulants, such as Ritalin, ultimately act as temporary agents to disguise the symptoms. All of this leads many to ask the question: is ADHD a fact, or is it fiction?

The Historical Evolution of ADHD: From Reality to Myth

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Hyperactivity

The origins of the study of this condition go back to the first half of the 20th century. During this period, several members of the scientific community have attempted to describe and classify the condition.

They grouped children who had trouble concentrating, were restless, irritable, and impulsive. They labeled the condition as Minimal Brain Dysfunction or Postencephalotic Behavior Disorder, even though the individuals had never suffered brain damage.

The first appearance of ADHD in the DSM

In 1968, Attention Deficit Disorder first appeared under a different name in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Childhood hyperkinetic disease was included thanks to Leon Eisenberg, an American physician and specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. He convinced the scientific community and the world that the symptoms described had a genetic origin.

Years later, in 2009, he would refute this claim in an interview for the German magazine Des Spiegel. He pointed to an excessive diagnosis of this condition, given the high number of cases detected.

Changes in the disorder

In the 1980s, the term that appeared in the DSM-II was attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity. It was not until the 1990s that the classification would be divided into the three current subtypes namely: inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type, combination type.

Over nearly a century of evolution, the concept of ADHD has undergone multiple changes, and not always in the same direction. The symptoms of hyperactivity were not always linked to Attention Deficit Disorder.

ADHD is therefore a concept that encompasses various psychiatric disorders in infants, adolescents and adults. The expertise of a professional is necessary to make a correct diagnosis.

Scientific proof of the existence of ADHD

Professor Marino Pérez Álvarez, specialist in psychotherapy and intervention techniques at the University of Oviedo (Spain), co-authored an interesting book on this topic.

The title of the book is Volviendo a la Normalidad: la invención del TDAH y del Trastorno bipolar infantil , or in Dutch ‘Back to Normal: The Fabrication of ADHD and Bipolar Disorder in Children.’

The book is full of scientific references and evidence that dismantle Attention Deficit Disorder. For example, part of this evidence is the absence of a brain biomarker that indicates the existence of the disorder.

The author also points to the statement Eisenberg himself, the “father” of ADHD, made shortly before his death. In an interview, Eisenberg recognized the problem of the patholization and excessive diagnosis of infantile behavior.

According to his book , the combination of symptoms that includes ADHD has more to do with behavioral problems than with a clinical profile. Moreover, Marino Pérez Álvarez draws attention to an undeniable truth.

Pharmaceutical companies have created a highly profitable business around the needs of affected families. In 2017 alone, the leading manufacturer of drugs for ADHD estimated profits at about $1.2 billion.

So, is ADHD fact or fiction?

It is impossible to give a definitive answer to that question. However, as parents, we should at least doubt its existence, given its high incidence among the child population. An estimated 6.4 million children are between the ages of 4 and 17 in the United States, and the number is growing.

According to the ADHD World Federation, “ADHD is a highly inherited childhood psychiatric disorder characterized by age-inappropriate levels of the key symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.”

The federation further says: “Recent scientific studies on ADHD reveal biological underpinnings such as multiple genetic factors, ADHD-related differences in brain structure and function, as well as changes in neurotransmitter components. ..”

Perhaps the scientific community needs more time to prove whether ADHD is fact or fiction. Perhaps the world is short of patience. The rhythm of our lives is stressful and the difficulties in reconciling work and personal life are increasing.

All of this means we can spend less time than ever with our children. Having said all that, if you suspect your child is having problems, don’t hesitate to see a trusted professional.