• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2011

Introduction : Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was a newly coined term for a disease that existed prior to its naming in the mid 20th century. The issue about whether ADHD is a new disorder or merely a new name for an existing disorder is still controversial. The authors tried to find the clues to the answer for this question through reviewing historical documents for traces of ADHD. Contents : We could find literatures and medical records that contain possible ADHD symptoms. In particular, in 1845, Heinrich Hoffmann's 'fidgety Philip' or 'Johnny Look-in-the-air' nearly satisfies today's criteria for ADHD. Methylphenidate was approved as a promising chemical for inattention in 1957 before the establishment of the concept of ADHD. In 1968, ADHD was first officially introduced as "Hyperactivity Reaction of Childhood" by DSM-II. In 1980, DSM-III, 'Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)' was adopted as an official diagnostic term and changed to 'ADHD' since the creation of DSM-III-R in 1987. Conclusion : As stated above, ADHD has existed since long ago and became familiar via an advanced diagnostic system and therapeutic options.