From http://www.house.gov/ed_workforce/hearings/106th/oi/ritalin92900/baughman.

htm,
oct5,2006

THE RISE AND FALL OF ADD/ADHD

by Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD 9/25/00

In 1948, 'neuropsychiatry' was divided into ‘neurology,’ dealing with organic/physical diseases
of the brain, and ‘psychiatry,’ dealing with emotional/behavioral conditions in normal human
beings [1]. There was no such thing as a psychiatric ‘disease’ then, and there is no such thing
today!
The 1950s were the dawn of the ‘age of psychopharmacology’--drugs for emotional/behavioral
problems in physically, normal persons.
Between 1952 and 1994, the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual (DSM) grew from 112 ‘disorders’/ ‘diseases’ in 1952 [2], to163 in 1968 [3],
224 in the 1980 [4], 253 in 1987 [5], and 374 in the 1994 [6].
The ADHD, ‘epidemic’ (by whatever name) has grown from 150,000 in 1970, to a half million
in 1985, a million in 1990, and to 6 million today—12-13% of the nation’s schoolchildren.
In the 60’s, psychiatry and pharmaceutical industry launched a psychopharmacology marketing
strategy. They would call all emotional/behavioral problems "brain diseases." Thus, the public
came to believe in "chemical balancers"—pills--for "chemical imbalances" (of the brain).
Moreover, they have ceased to understand what "normal" is.
On October 12, 1970, Congressman, Cornelius Gallagher [7] wrote to Secretary of the
Department of Health Education and Welfare, Elliott Richardson, stating, "… a NIMH witness
testified that at least one hundred fifty thousand children around the nation were receiving
drugs." "I have received letters from people….highly critical of the focus of the medical side of
minimal brain dysfunction, which is, incidentally, one of at least thirty-eight names attached to
this condition…Such a high incidence in the population- as high as thirty percent in ghetto
areas…may not be pathological at all…Amphetamines now rival and perhaps exceed hard drugs
as a source of abuse, I recommend studies focusing on other medication to control the behavior
of hyperactive children."
In 1980, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was invented, in-committee, for DSM-III [4].
In 1987, ADD was revised, becoming ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for
DSM-III-R [5]. Any 8 behaviors from a list of 14, qualifies a child for the ‘diagnosis.’
In 1994, ADHD is again ‘re-conceptualized’, this time for DSM-IV [6]. Six of the nine behaviors
from one of two lists qualifies for the ‘inattentive,’ the ‘hyperactive-impulsive’ or the
‘combined’ type.
On July 15, 1996, Congressman Christopher Shays [7] testified: "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 because as a culture we have lost our patience with them."
At the same hearing, Jensen [8], of the NIMH and CHADD (he is a member of their Professional
Advisory Board), assured the Congressman: "…studies have consistently pointed towards
disturbances in brain functioning, particularly in brain areas responsible for attention and
memory."
Jensen used the wording: "pointed toward disturbances in brain functioning" because there was
no proof of brain malfunction at the time. Just as there is none today.
On September 23, 1993, Baughman [9], testified to the Panel on NIH Research on Antisocial,
Aggressive, and Violence-Related Behaviors and their Consequences: "If, as I am convinced,
these entities are not diseases, it would be unethical to initiate research to evaluate biological
interventions—unethical and fatally flawed scientifically.
In December, 1994, Pearlman [10], wrote: "I take issue with Pincus’(for 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 that were, in previous DSM publications,
clearly differentiated from known central nervous system diseases."
Baughman [11], also responding to Pincus’ APA assertion, wrote: "…to contend that something
is a disease when that has not been established is to fail to provide the patient with information
sufficient to make an informed decision."

On December 24, 1994, Leber [12] of the FDA wrote me: "…as yet no distinctive
pathophysiology for the disorder has been delineated."
On October 25, 1995, Haislip [13] of the DEA wrote me: "We are also unaware that ADHD has
been validated as a biologic/organic syndrome or disease."
In 1996, Schiller, of the US Department of Education, Jensen (NIMH, CHADD), and Swanson
(UC, Irvine, CHADD) [14], 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 or
their children and take appropriate steps to prevent a pattern of failure."
There can be no doubt here, that they are calling ADD/ADHD a disease; the children abnormal,
diseased.
On April 15, 1998, I [15] wrote to Attorney General, Janet Reno, stating: "The single, biggest
heath care fraud in US history—the representation of ADHD to be an actual disease, and the
drugging of millions of entirely normal American children, as "treatment," is spreading like a
plague…That ADHD is wholly devoid of validity as a disease, a medical syndrome or, anything
biologic or organic, is the pivotal element of the fraud." No answer!
On October 8, 1998, Diller [16], author of Running on Ritalin wrote to Sue Parry, a concerned
mother: "The reason why you have been unable to obtain any articles or studies presenting clear
and confirming evidence of a physical or chemical abnormality associated with ADHD is that
there are none. Not that medical science, especially in recent years, hasn’t tried. However the
search for a biological marker is doomed from the outset because of the contradictions and
ambiguities of the diagnostic construct of ADHD as defined by the DSM. I liken efforts to
discover a marker to the search for the Holy Grail."
On March 7, 1998, Swanson [17], of the University of California, Irvine and CHADD (a member
of their Professional Advisory Board) stated: "I would like to have an objective diagnosis for the
disorder (ADHD). Right now psychiatric diagnosis is completely subjective…"
On May, 13, 1998, Castellanos [18] or the NIMH wrote 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 [19], Director of
the NIMH stated: "ADHD affects from 0-3% in some school districts up to 40% in others. Surely
this cannot be right."
Addressing the Consensus Conference, Carey [20] concluded: "What is now most often
described as ADHD in the United States appears to be a set of normal behavioral variations..."
Critiquing the report of the Consensus Conference Panel, Degrandpre [21] observed,
"… it appears that you define disease as a maladaptive cluster of characteristics…in the history
of science and medicine, this would not be a valid definition of disease."
Having failed to validate ADHD as a disease, they seek to change the definition.
Baughman [22] testified at the Consensus Conference: "Without an iota of proof or credible
science, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has proclaimed the … children "brain-
diseased," "abnormal." CHADD, funded by Ciba-Geigy, manufacturer of Ritalin, has spread the
"neuro-biological" lie. The US Department of Education, absolving itself of controlling the
children and rendering them literate, coerces the labeling and drugging…ADHD is a total, 100%
fraud."
My appearance was expunged from the government videotape of the conference.
NPR’s Joe Palca [23], chided the Panel: ""What you're telling us is that ADHD is like the
Supreme Court's definition of pornography, 'You know it when you see it.'"
The final statement of the Consensus Conference Panel [24], delivered to attendees, and the
press, November 18, 1998, read: " ...we do not have an independent, valid test for ADHD, and
there are no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction."
An indefinite period following the November 18, "final statement," of the Consensus Conference
Panel, the NIH [25], published yet another "final statement" reading: "although an independent
diagnostic test for ADHD does not exist, there is evidence supporting the validity of the
disorder."
On April 29, 1999, Baughman [26] responded to Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs of
the American Medical Association [27]: "Once children are labeled with ADHD, they are no
longer treated as normal. Once Ritalin or any psychotropic drug courses through their brain and
body, they are, for the first time, physically, neurologically and biologically, abnormal."
On November 28, 1999, I wrote to Matthew D. Cohen, Esq. [28] President of CHADD, stating:
"You and I know that whether or not ADHD is an actual disease with a confirmatory, physical or
chemical abnormality, (detectable, patient-by-patient) is more fundamental to the debate now
raging over the Colorado State Board of Education’s resolution, than whether or not
psychotropic drugs cause violence or, are addictive, dangerous and deadly. You at CHADD,
including all members of your Professional Advisory Board, are aware that actual, bona fide
diseases, are characterized and validated by a confirmatory, physical or chemical abnormality.
You are aware of this, even if the general public is not, and is inclined to trust and believe
anything physicians tell them. Thus the widespread belief, by the public, in ADHD as a disease,
something "neurobiologic", when there is no research-empirical proof. This brings me to ADHD
and to your letter to Mr. Clair Orr, Chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education, of
11/2/99. You state: ‘Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a severe neurobiological
condition…’ The term "neurobiologic condition" says to the public that there is something
wrong or abnormal with the brain or nervous system of the child/person with ADHD. How can
CHADD make such a statement to the public, and now, to the Colorado State Board of
Education, when there is no objective evidence or proof anywhere in the peer-reviewed
literature, that there is any neurological (brain) abnormality in children (persons) said to have
ADHD, or that there is anything physically, chemically, or biologically abnormal, at all. How
does CHADD justify calling so many normal children diseased, abnormal--for surely you do--for
purposes of justifying prescriptions for them, mostly of addictive, controlled, Schedule II,
psychostimulant medications?"
I have never heard back from Mr. Cohen. However CHADD repeated its claim, still with no
scientific evidence with which to back it up, that ‘Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a
severe neurobiological condition…’ in testimony to the Arkansas State House of
Representatives, May, 3, 2000.
On December 13, 1999, Surgeon General, David Satcher released his Report on Mental Health.
In it he alleged: "Mental illness is no different than diabetes, asthma or other physical ailments…
Mental illnesses are physical illnesses…We know the chemical disorders we are treating…"
In a letter of January 25, 2000, I [29] responded: "Having gone to medical school and studied…
disease, then, diagnosis, you and I, and all physicians, know that the presence of any bona fide
disease, like diabetes, cancer, or epilepsy is confirmed by an objective finding--a physical or
chemical abnormality. No demonstrable physical or chemical abnormality: no disease! You also
know, I am sure, that there is no physical or chemical abnormality to be found, in life, or at
autopsy in "depression, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses…" Why, then, are you telling
the American people that "mental illnesses" are "physical" and that they are due to "chemical
disorders"?…Your role in this deception and victimization is clear. Whether you are a physician,
so unscientific, that you cannot read their contrived, "neurobiologic" literature and see the fraud,
or whether you see it and choose to be an accomplice--you should resign."
In January, 2000 Castellanos [30], summarized the state of ADHD science: "Incontrovertible
evidence is still lacking…In time I’m confident we’ll confirm the case for organic causes."
On May 1, 2000, the law firm of Waters and Kraus [31] of Dallas, Texas filed the first class
action suit charging that the APA, CHADD and Novartis: " planned, conspired, and colluded to
create, develop, promote and confirm the diagnoses of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, in a highly successful effort to increase the market for its product
Ritalin."
As of September, 2000, five or six or such class action suits had been filed, 2 in California.
It is impossible to escape the conclusion that ADD/ADHD is a total fraud leading to the medical
victimization of millions of previously normal, if troubled, mis-educated, children across the
United States.
It is also impossible to escape the conclusion that many departments, offices, and officials, of the
federal government, are, knowingly and unknowingly, parties to this fraud and victimization.
(PROJECT TRANSPARENCY)
If you, Ladies and Gentlemen, if want to know whether ADHD, or any psychiatric ‘disease’ is
truly a disease or not, all you have to do is pose the following question, just as I did, on
September 19, to Doctors Hyman and Castellanos (or any reputable psychiatric researcher, or
psychiatric organization), of the NIMH:
Is ADHD (or any psychiatric ‘disease’) a bona fide disease with a confirmatory physical or
chemical abnormality demonstrable within the patient? Circle ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
(do not write in this space).
If ‘yes,’ cite the article which constitutes proof of the confirmatory physical or chemical
abnormality, entering the following:
the author(s)………………………..
title of the article……………….
journal name…………………….
date…………………………….
volume…………………………
page numbers…………………..
(do not write anything else in this section)
Examples:
Baughman FA. CHANDS: the curly hair-ankyloblepharon-nail dysplasia syndrome. Birth
Defects: Original Article Series. 1971;7:100-102. (this was the original description of a never-
before described disease, validated as such by it’s confirmatory, distinctive, combination of
physical abnormalities.
Toriello HV, Lindstrom JA, Waterman, DF, Baughman FA. Re-evaluation of CHANDS. Journal
of Medical Genetics. 1979;16:316-317. (this study proved that CHANDS is a genetic disease)
Thank you for this opportunity to portray for you the scientific status, such as it is, of childhood
psychopharmacology in the United States, today.

BIBLIOGRAPHY—THE RISE AND FALL OF ADD/ADHD

Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD, 9/22/00
The American Academy of Neurology: The First Fifty Years, 1948-1998. Maynard M. Cohen
(ed.). The American Academy of Neurology, St. Paul, MN.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM). Washington, DC. 1952
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2nd
edition (DSM-II). Washington, DC. 1968.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 3rd
edition. Washington: American Psychiatric Association, 1980.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd
edition-revised (DSM-III-R). Washington, DC. 1987.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th
edition. Washington, DC. 1994.
Letter from Cornelius E. Gallagher, Chairman of the Right to Privacy Inquiry Special Studies
Subcommittee to the Honorable Elliott Richardson, Secretary Department of Health Education
and Welfare (HEW) October 12, 1970.
Testimony of Rep. Christopher Shays, R-CN, also of Peter S. Jensen, M.D., at the Hearing of the
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, July 15, 1996.
Baughman FA. Testimony to the Panel on NIH Research on Antisocial, Aggressive, and
Violence-Related Behaviors and their Consequences, September 23, 1993.
Pearlman, T. Letter to the editor in Clinical Psychiatric News December, 1994.
Baughman, FA. Letter to the editor in Clinical Psychiatric News December, 1994.
Leber, P. Personal correspondence to F.Baughman of December 24, 1994.
Haislip, G.R. Personal correspondence to F.Baughman of October 25, 1995.
Schiller E, Jensen PS, Swanson J. In magazine of the Parent Teachers Association, from the
Office of Special Education, US Department of Education,1996.
Baughman FA Jr. Letter to Attorney General, Janet Reno, April 15, 1998.
Diller, L. personal correspondence, S. Parry, October 8, 1997.
Swanson, J. Quote from presentation at the American Society of Adolescent Psychiatry, San
Diego, CA, March 7, 1998.
Castellanos, FX. Personal correspondence to F.Baughman of May, 13, 1998.
Hyman SE. Opening remarks at the November 16-18, 1998, NIH, Consensus Conference on
ADHD.
Carey, WB. Invited presentation: "Is ADHD a Valid Disorder" at the November 16-18, 1998,
NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD.
DeGrandpre, R. Quoted at the November 16-18, 1998, NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD.
Baughman, FA Jr. Testimony at the NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD, November 17,
1998.
Palca J. Quoted at the press conference of November 18, 1998, following the NIH, Consensus
Conference on ADHD .
Final Statement of the Panel of the NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD, delivered, November
18, 1998,
Final Statement of the Panel of the NIH, Consensus Conference on ADHD. (this was the second
final statement authored and put up on the NIH web site, <www.nimh.nih.gov> an indeterminate
time after November, 18, 1998)
Baughman, F.A. Jr. Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. JAMA.
1999;281:1490.
Goldman LS, Genel M, Bezman RJ, Slanetz PJ, for the Council on Scientific Affairs, American
Medical Association. JAMA. 1998; 279:1100-1107.
Baughman, FA Jr., letter to Matthew D. Cohen, Esq., President, CHADD, November 28, 1999.
Baughman FA Jr., letter to Surgeon General, David Satcher, December 13, 1999.
Castellanos, FX. Interview in Making Sense of Ritalin, Readers Digest, January, 2000.
Law firm of Waters and Kraus, Dallas, Texas, on <ritalinfraud.com>