By Richard DeGrandpre. 284 pp. New York, W.W. Norton, 1999. $23.95. ISBN 0-393-04685-0.
It has been almost a century since the initial description ofwhat we now call attention-deficit–hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) appeared in the English-language medical literature,and it is remarkable that the disorder continues to provokestrong feelings and controversy. It is particularly strikingin view of the substantial advances in our understanding ofADHD, including its underlying neurobiologic features and itstreatment. In Ritalin Nation, DeGrandpre argues that ADHD reflectscultural changes rather than any underlying biologic predisposition.The essence of his argument is as follows. We are living ina continually speeded-up society — in DeGrandpre's words,a "rapid-fire culture," . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Previous
