minimal brain dysfunction

pathology

Also known as: MBD

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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Minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) is an outdated term that was formerly used to describe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is not a current medical diagnosis. The term MBD was used in the mid-20th century to refer to a range of behavioral and learning issues in children that were thought to stem from subtle neurological impairments.12

While the term MBD is no longer in common use, the conditions it attempted to describe are now understood and diagnosed as ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.2

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attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
…describe this behaviour, among them minimal brain damage and hyperkinesis. In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) replaced these terms with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Then in 1987 the APA linked ADD with hyperactivity, a condition that sometimes accompanies attention disorders but may exist independently. The new syndrome was named…
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…describe this behaviour, among them minimal brain damage and hyperkinesis. In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) replaced these terms with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Then in 1987 the APA linked ADD with hyperactivity, a condition that sometimes accompanies attention disorders but may exist independently. The new syndrome was named…
Read More