How Did Ancient Greeks Describe ADHD-Like Symptoms?

What you need to know

• Theophrastus’s description of “The Obtuse Man” from around 300 BCE contains traits that resemble modern symptoms of ADHD and social pragmatic communication disorder in adults.
• This early description suggests these conditions have existed throughout history, even if they were not recognized as medical disorders at the time.
• Analyzing historical texts can provide insight into how symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders were perceived in different cultural contexts.

Theophrastus and his “Characters”

Theophrastus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from approximately 371 to 287 BCE. He was a student of Aristotle and eventually became the head of the Lyceum, Aristotle’s famous school in Athens. Theophrastus wrote extensively on a variety of subjects, but one of his most well-known works is a book called “Characters.”

In “Characters,” Theophrastus describes 30 different personality types that he observed among his fellow Athenians. Each character sketch paints a vivid picture of a particular type of person through their behaviors, mannerisms, and social interactions. Theophrastus used these descriptions to illustrate different moral and psychological traits.

One of the characters Theophrastus describes is called “Anaisthetos” in ancient Greek. This has been variously translated as “The Obtuse Man” or “The Insensitive Man.” When we examine Theophrastus’s description of this character closely, we can see some interesting parallels to what we now recognize as symptoms of certain neurodevelopmental disorders.

The Obtuse Man’s behaviors

Theophrastus provides several examples of the Obtuse Man’s behavior that seem strikingly familiar to modern clinicians:

• After doing calculations, he asks the person next to him what the total is
• He forgets about a court case he’s supposed to attend and goes to the country instead
• He falls asleep at the theater and is left behind when everyone else leaves
• He can’t find something he put away himself
• He forces his children to wrestle and run races with him to the point of exhaustion
• He puts salt in a soup twice, making it inedible

These behaviors demonstrate problems with attention, memory, impulsivity, and social awareness - all hallmarks of what we now call attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Additionally, Theophrastus describes some socially inappropriate responses from the Obtuse Man:

• When told of a friend’s death, he says “Good luck to him!”
• He asks for witnesses when collecting a debt owed to him
• When it’s raining, he comments on how nice the stars smell

These examples show difficulties with social communication and understanding social norms, which align with symptoms of social pragmatic communication disorder.

Connecting ancient descriptions to modern diagnoses

The authors of this study, Pehlivanidis and Papanikolaou, argue that Theophrastus’s description of the Obtuse Man represents the earliest known portrayal of co-occurring ADHD and social pragmatic communication disorder symptoms in an adult.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent problems with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. While it’s often thought of as a childhood disorder, we now know that ADHD frequently persists into adulthood.

Social pragmatic communication disorder (SPCD) is a more recently recognized condition involving ongoing difficulties with verbal and nonverbal social communication. People with SPCD struggle to match their communication to social contexts, follow conversational rules, and understand implied meanings.

Both ADHD and SPCD are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders, meaning they typically emerge early in development and affect a person’s functioning across various domains of life.

The significance of this historical description

Finding descriptions of behaviors in ancient texts that align with modern psychiatric diagnoses is valuable for several reasons:

1. It suggests that these conditions have existed throughout human history, even if they weren’t recognized or labeled as disorders.

2. It provides insight into how these behaviors were perceived and interpreted in different cultural and historical contexts.

3. It lends support to the validity of these diagnostic categories, showing that the clustering of these symptoms has been observed for millennia.

4. It illustrates how our understanding and interpretation of human behavior evolves over time.

However, it’s important to note that we can’t definitively diagnose historical figures or characters with modern psychiatric conditions. The cultural context, limited information, and changes in diagnostic criteria over time make this impossible. What we can do is observe interesting parallels and use them to reflect on our current understanding of these conditions.

The importance of language and translation

An interesting point raised in this study is the issue of translation. The character’s name in ancient Greek, “Anaisthetos,” can be translated in different ways. In modern Greek, it’s been translated both as “Anaisthetos,” meaning a lack of appreciation or insensitivity, and “Bradynous,” meaning slowness of mind.

The authors argue that “Anaisthetos” (lack of appreciation) is a more accurate translation based on Theophrastus’s description. They point out that the character’s behaviors don’t suggest low intellectual capacity, which would be implied by “Bradynous,” but rather a lack of social awareness and attention.

This highlights the importance of careful translation and interpretation when dealing with ancient texts, especially when trying to connect them to modern concepts.

Historical views on behavior and modern clinical perspectives

In ancient Greek philosophy, particularly in the Peripatetic school founded by Aristotle, minor psychiatric disorders or problematic personality traits were often attributed to a lack of rational control over one’s desires and behaviors. The idea was that by recognizing these flaws, a person could increase their self-awareness and potentially improve their behavior.

This differs significantly from our modern clinical approach to neurodevelopmental disorders. Today, conditions like ADHD are understood as complex neurobiological disorders influenced by genetic and environmental factors. We recognize that these are not simply issues of self-control or character flaws, but genuine disorders that can significantly impact a person’s life.

Importantly, we now have evidence-based treatments available for many neurodevelopmental disorders. For instance, ADHD can often be effectively managed with a combination of medication, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Early recognition and appropriate treatment can lead to better outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.

Conclusions

• Theophrastus’s description of “The Obtuse Man” from ancient Greece contains behaviors that resemble symptoms of ADHD and social pragmatic communication disorder in adults.

• This early account suggests that the symptoms associated with these neurodevelopmental disorders have existed throughout history, even if they weren’t recognized as medical conditions at the time.

• While we can’t diagnose historical figures or characters, analyzing these descriptions can provide valuable insights into how certain behaviors have been perceived and interpreted across different cultures and time periods.

• Our understanding and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders have evolved significantly. What was once seen as a character flaw is now recognized as a treatable medical condition, highlighting the importance of continued research and awareness in this field.