March 28
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Is ADHD just a modern invention or a convenient label for everyday distraction?
Critics often argue that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is overdiagnosed, socially constructed, or simply a trendy excuse for poor behavior. But historical records tell a different story—one that stretches back more than a century.
In fact, as early as 1904, renowned psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung was documenting patient cases that eerily resemble what we now recognize as adult ADHD.
In a groundbreaking 2025 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, researchers at the University of Leipzig analyzed Jung's early psychiatric work and found striking parallels to today's diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Jung's essay, titled "Über manische Verstimmungen" ("On Manic Moods"), presented four case studies involving adults with persistent symptoms such as impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, restlessness, distractibility, and difficulty with long-term focus - all hallmarks of ADHD.
At the time, Jung labeled these symptoms as signs of a "chronic submanic state" or "constitutional manic mood," and he carefully differentiated them from conditions like bipolar disorder or moral insanity.
One of Jung's patients, for example, was a nurse who changed jobs 32 times in 11 years, exhibited chronic restlessness, made impulsive decisions, and had a history of mood swings.
Another was a merchant who was brilliant but disorganized, emotionally volatile, and prone to abandoning projects midstream - classic ADHD behavior.
What makes this revelation so compelling is how closely these 1904 case descriptions match the modern symptom profile outlined in the DSM-5.
Jung even noted the early onset of symptoms in childhood and how they persisted into adulthood—long before ADHD was formally recognized as a diagnosis.
These early descriptions also align with current understandings of comorbid conditions like emotional dysregulation and substance misuse.
This historical continuity undermines the argument that ADHD is a recent invention or a cultural trend.
While the terminology and diagnostic criteria have evolved, the clinical reality has not.
The condition we now call ADHD has been observed, recorded, and struggled with for over a century, even if it went by different names.
Jung’s documentation supports the view that ADHD is a stable and enduring neurodevelopmental condition, not a fleeting trend.
Acknowledging the deep historical roots of ADHD is more than an academic exercise; it shifts public discourse away from skepticism and toward understanding.
It helps validate the lived experiences of millions of adults who were misunderstood or misdiagnosed for decades. It also reinforces the need for accessible diagnosis and support, especially for adults whose symptoms have persisted since childhood.
The next time someone claims that ADHD is just a fad, tell them Carl Jung might disagree.
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