baughman2

In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association invented attention deficit
disorder--ADD for their DSM III [4]. It was not discovered as are
real diseases in the plant and animal kingdom, including humankind.

In 1987 the APA launched it's first ADHD conceptualization for
DSM-III-R [5]. Any eight of fourteen target behaviors were said to be
diagnostic!

In 1994, they launched their second ADHD conceptualization, this one for
the DSM-IV [6]. Six of the nine behaviors were said to diagnose 3
subtypes.

[figure. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD]

In December, 1994, Pearlman [7], wrote:
"I take issue with the APA assertion that elimination of the term
"organic" in the DSM-IV has served a useful purpose for psychiatry.
elimination of the term "organic" conveys the impression that
psychiatry wishes to conceal the nonorganic character of many behavioral
problems .

Here we encounter the deception-their implication that things
non-organic, are organic; are biological; are diseases.

In 1996, leaving no doubt that they represent ADHD to be a disease, the
children abnormal, Schiller, of the Department of Education, and Jensen
and Swanson of the National Institute of Health (NIMH) and of CHADD
[8], wrote:
"Once parents and teachers.recognize that children with ADD are not
lazy or 'bad', but have a biological disorder, they can stop blaming
themselves."
In 1996, Congressman Christopher Shays [9] observed:

"In ADHD, we are trying to draw the line between personality and
pathology, and we are placing millions of children and adults on either
side of the social, medical and legal boundary that divides the healthy
from the sick. We should do so only with the greatest care, and with
particular reticence to make our children medical patients..."

In 1996, Diller [10], wrote:

"The reason you have been unable to obtain any articles presenting
clear . evidence of a physical or chemical abnormality. is.. there are
none. the search for a biological marker is doomed from the outset
because of the contradictions and ambiguities of the diagnostic
construct of ADHD.

In May, 1998, Castellanos [11] of the NIMH confessed to me:
". we have not yet met the burden of demonstrating the specific
pathophysiology that we believe underlies this condition."
Opening the November, 1998, NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD, Hyman
[12], Director of the NIMH, posited:

"ADHD affects from 0-3% in some school districts up to 40% in others.
this cannot be right."

Carey [13], addressing the Conference on "Is ADHD a Valid Disorder?"
concluded:

"What is.described as ADHD in the United States appears to be a set of
normal behavioral variations..."