This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mayes, R. Articles by Rafalovich, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mayes, R. Articles by Rafalovich, A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Suffer the restless children: the evolution of ADHD and paediatric stimulant use, 1900—80

University of Richmond, USA, bmayes{at}richmond.edu

Adam Rafalovich

Pacific University, USA

This article traces the historical evolution of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the controversial use of stimulants as a treatment for children diagnosed with the disorder in North America.While the children in question have exhibited similar behaviour over the last century, the diagnostic labels used to identify them have changed due largely to cultural, medical and scientific changes and discoveries. For decades, children's treatment with psychotropic drugs was sufficiently controversial that pharmaceutical companies would not finance research in the area. The only substantial source of research funding for paediatric psychopharmacology in the USA from the 1950s to the 1970s was the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). In 1970, the first in a long-running series of controversies erupted over children's treatment with stimulants.

Key Words: ADHD • amphetamines • history • paediatric psychopharmacology • Ritalin • USA

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?