This review of the major investigations in the area of hyperactivity provides an overview of the possible etiological factors responsible for this enigmatic condition. There is little evidence implicating genetics, social learning, and organic factors as causes of hyperactivity. Environmental factors such as lead poisoning and, in particular, food additives show a somewhat stronger association with hyperactivity. It is also possible that rather than a single factor only the cumulative effect of several etiological factors causes hyperactivity. The hitherto indiscriminate association of all hyperactive children into a single class without recognition of the possible presence of pertinent heterogeneous subpopulations may have seriously hindered previous investigations. Therefore, the development and use of wore accurately described subclasses based on neurological, social, genetic, or environmental aberrations might prove more successful in the search for the etiology and treatment of hyperactivity.
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