In 1937, Dr. Charles Bradley became the first doctor to prescribe the psychostimulant medication benzedrine to treat hyperactive children. Despite the fact that he wrote and published his findings in numerous medical journals, it would take another 20 years for his discovery to be noticed by other doctors. While the most significant discoveries about ADHD have been made in the past 30 years, the history of the disorder is much longer.
1957
Methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin, was approved to treat hyperactivity in children in the 1957. At this time, the disorder was known as "minimal brain dysfunction." The term was eventually changed to "hyperkinetic disorder" in the 1960s. Another drug, dextroamphetamine, better known as Dexedrine, was also used at this time to treat hyperactivity in children.
1975
In 1975, pemoline (Cylert) was approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of ADHD. However, its use to treat ADHD has declined significantly since it was shown to increase the chance of liver failure in about 10 to 25 percent of people prescribed according to the FDA.
1980s
In 1980, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third edition (DSM-III) was published by the American Psychiatric Association. This was the first time the term "attention deficit disorder" was defined, and it listed two subtypes of ADD: with hyperactivity or without hyperactivity. In the revised edition (DSM-IIIR), the term was changed to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder with three subtypes: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive, or combined type. The diagnosis and psychosocial treatment of ADHD increased greatly after it was included in the DSM under these names.
1990s
In 1996, the brand name of an amphetamine known as Obetrol was changed to Adderall when it was approved as a treatment for ADHD. Before that time, it had been used to treat obesity.
1999
One of the largest studies of treatment for ADHD, the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD, was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1999. According to the study, medication alone was more effective than psychosocial treatments alone. However, the most effective treatment was one that combined both medication and psychosocial treatments.
2000s
Extended-release forms of various stimulants have been developed in the past few years. An extended-release formula of methylphenidate, known as Concerta, was released in 2000. In 2001, an extended-release formula, known as Adderall XR, was released. In 2002, atomoxetine (Strattera) was approved by the FDA for use as a treatment for ADHD. It is the first nonstimulant medication approved by the FDA specifically to treat ADHD.
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