To take a look behind the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) allows us to explore a number of issues: first, 'overprescribing' of medication; second, the notion of 'manufactured epidemic'; third, the process of 'dumbing down' and 'smartening up' the assessment of children's mental health; fourth, discuss the unifying concept of the 'developmental perspective'; fifth, use case studies to introduce new concepts of 'attachment deficit' and 'hyperreactivity'; and sixth, debunk the myth of 'childhood resilience. Finally I suggest 'smartening up' our understanding of ADHD needs inclusion of current advances in attachment theory favouring the new conceptualisation of ADHD as 'Attachment Deficit Hyperreactivity Disorder.
Smartening up or Dumbing down?: A Look Behind the Symptoms, Overprescribing and Reconceptualizing ADHD

