Hyperactive: The Controversial History of ADHD

Hyperactive: The Controversial History of ADHD
ISBN-10
1780230567
ISBN-13
9781780230566
Category
History
Pages
248
Language
English
Published
2013-02-15
Publisher
Reaktion Books
Author
Matthew Smith

Description

Each year, doctors diagnose an average of nine percent of children between the ages of five and seventeen with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. One of the most common childhood disorders, it is also one of the most controversial—since first identified in the late 1950s, everyone from medical professionals to politicians have debated its causes, its treatment, and its implications for children. Today, physicians believe it is an inherited neurological disorder best treated with stimulants. Hyperactive provides the first history of ADHD, addressing why children were first diagnosed with the disorder, why biological explanations became predominant, how powerful drugs became the preferred treatment, and why alternative explanations have failed to achieve any legitimacy. Contending that hyperactive children are also a product of their social, cultural, and educational environment, Matthew Smith demonstrates how knowledge about the history of ADHD can lead to better choices about its diagnosis and treatment. A revealing and accessible study of this controversial subject, Hyperactive is an essential book for psychologists, teachers, policymakers, and parents.

Other editions

  • Hyperactive
    • 2008-04-01
    • 112 pages
    • Paperback
    • Blue Dream Studio

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