Driven To Distraction (ADHD)
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Edward McKey Hallowell (born December 2, 1949) is an American
psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...
, speaker, ''New York Times'' best-selling author and podcast host. He specializes in
ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by excessive amounts of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and otherwise age-inapp ...
(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and is the founder of the Hallowell ADHD Centers. Hallowell is the author of 20 books, including the Distraction series, co-authored with Dr.
John Ratey John Joseph Ratey, M.D., (born April 7, 1948) is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the coauthor, with Edward Hallowell of the books '' Driven to Distraction'', ''Answers to Distraction'', and ''Delivered ...
.


Education

Hallowell is an alumnus of
Phillips Exeter Academy (not for oneself) la, Finis Origine Pendet (The End Depends Upon the Beginning) gr, Χάριτι Θεοῦ (By the Grace of God) , location = 20 Main Street , city = Exeter, New Hampshire , zipcode ...
,
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
and
Tulane University School of Medicine The Tulane University School of Medicine is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and is a part of Tulane University. The school is located in the Medical District of the New Orleans Central Business District. History The school wa ...
. He received a bachelor's degree in English from
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
and a medical degree from the
Tulane University School of Medicine The Tulane University School of Medicine is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and is a part of Tulane University. The school is located in the Medical District of the New Orleans Central Business District. History The school wa ...
.ADHD Nation – Alan Schwarz – 2016 Hallowell completed his residency in adult and child psychiatry at
Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consi ...
.


ADHD career

Hallowell has been treating people of all ages with ADHD since 1981, and has stated that he has
dyslexia Dyslexia, also known until the 1960s as word blindness, is a disorder characterized by reading below the expected level for one's age. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, r ...
and ADHD, which is self-diagnosed. His approach to the condition uses a strength-based model—developed with ''Driven to Distraction'' co-author Dr.
John Ratey John Joseph Ratey, M.D., (born April 7, 1948) is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the coauthor, with Edward Hallowell of the books '' Driven to Distraction'', ''Answers to Distraction'', and ''Delivered ...
—that is based on the tenets of
positive psychology Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living, focusing on both individual and societal well-being. It studies "positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions...it aims t ...
and takes a more holistic view of ADHD, rather than seeing it purely as a disorder with negative symptoms. This model was new to the field. Using this treatment model, Hallowell founded the ADHD Hallowell Centers to support and treat people with ADHD. There are currently six locations in the United States, including New York City, Seattle and Boston. Hallowell states that there are four key aspects to treatment for ADHD: 1) learning as much as possible about the condition in order to "know what it is, and what it is not" and to understand the specific symptoms that a person has; 2) getting a coach to help with the executive functioning type tasks that people with ADHD tend to struggle with; 3) lifestyle changes, including good nutrition, sleep and physical exercise; and 4) medication, if it is beneficial for the individual. Hallowell has stated that "the biggest problem we face in terms of the perception of ADHD is ignorance and stigma." He has also stated that "contentiousness around ADHD is simply rooted in ignorance." Hallowell believes ADHD is due to a "biochemical imbalance in the brain". On September 15, 2005, Hallowell said, "Whenever you get someone with ADHD diagnosed and treated successfully, everyone wins. Along with behavioral therapy, medication is good because it can improve adults' relationships, parenting skills, job performance, even their sex lives". In a 2013 interview, Hallowell said that, when used properly, stimulant medication is safe and benefits patients with ADHD in 80% of cases. He said children as young as 4 years old can use it and that his oldest patient was 86 years old. Hallowell estimated that 15% of the population have ADHD. The DSM state 5% have it. Hallowell believes that
Adderall Adderall and Mydayis are trade names for a combination drug called mixed amphetamine salts containing four salts of amphetamine. The mixture is composed of equal parts racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which produces a (3:1) ratio bet ...
and other stimulant drugs are safer than
aspirin Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and/or inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions which aspirin is used to treat inc ...
. He also believes
Coffee Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulant, stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world. S ...
is more toxic than
Adderall Adderall and Mydayis are trade names for a combination drug called mixed amphetamine salts containing four salts of amphetamine. The mixture is composed of equal parts racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which produces a (3:1) ratio bet ...
. Hallowell has been a paid consultant for McNeil Pediatrics, who make stimulant drugs including Adderall and Concerta. In 2018, he said, "prisons are full of people with undiagnosed ADHD, as are the lines of the unemployed, the marginalized, the addicted and the depressed. ADHD can ruin a person's life, or hold them back from ever reaching their full potential". A study conducted in 2018 found that 25% of the prison population had undiagnosed ADHD. Hallowell supports the official and updated definition of ADHD developed by the DSM-5 Task Force. ADHD does not always include hyperactivity, and Hallowell says that this type, known as ADHD Inattentive Type, occurs frequently in women. In 2020, Hallowell said that the term ''Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder'' is a horrible term, and that "individuals with ADHD don't have a deficiency of attention, but an abundance of it." Hallowell claims that ADHD does not always include hyperactivity but can include an inability to follow through on assignments at work or at school, misplacing things, avoiding tasks or getting distracted easily. Hallowell also believes that hyperactivity can be a misleading symptom and can lead to individuals going undiagnosed in some cases. Hallowell has described the ADHD brain as a
Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
engine with bicycle brakes. Hallowell and Ratey created a new term, ''VAST'' (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait), to describe ADHD more effectively, and wrote about this extensively in their new book, published in January 2021. ''VAST'' derives from the fact that people with ADHD are drawn to high stimulation situations and their attention varies based on the level of stimulation within the situation. Hallowell also created the term ''sensitive euphoria'': when individuals with ADHD are criticized or rejected, they typically wilt, while forms of encouragement and recognition help them immensely. Hallowell has written over 20 books on ADHD and other psychological topics, writes a monthly blog about the topic and is a regular contributor to ''
ADDitude Magazine ''ADDitude'' is a quarterly consumer publication about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by excessive amounts of inattention, hyperactiv ...
''. He also serves on the ADHD Medical Review Panel for ''ADDitude''. In 2018, he was awarded the National Alliance on Mental Illness' Leader of Mental Health Awareness Award. Hallowell has been a podcast host since 2015. In October 2020, he began posting educational videos on TikTok. In May 2015 Hallowell asserted that "The people who colonized this country were loaded with the ADHD genes, hence our current gene pool is well stocked with ADHD. It has driven our greatest successes–but is also why we are such a violent nation.


Books

Hallowell has authored 20 books. His Distraction series, co-authored with Dr John Ratey, is focused on a strength-based approach to ADHD.


Distraction series

* ''ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction – From Childhood Through Adulthood'' – January 12, 2021 *''Driven to Distraction (Revised)'': Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder Paperback – September 13, 2011, with John Ratey * ''Answers to Distraction'' – January 12, 2010, with John Ratey * ''Delivered from Distraction'': Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder – December 27, 2005, with John Ratey * ''Driven to Distraction at Work'': How to Focus and Be More Productive – January 1, 2003 * ''Married to Distraction'': How to Restore Intimacy and Strengthen Your Partnership in an Age of Interruption – February 8, 2011, with Sue Hallowell


Other books

*''Finding the Heart of the Child (1993)'' Essays on Children, Families, and Schools – January 1, 1997 *''When You Worry About The Child You Love'' (1997) – August 27, 1997 *''Worry: Hope and Help for a Common Condition'' – September 14, 1998 *''Connect: 12 Vital Ties That Open Your Heart, Lengthen Your Life, and Deepen Your Soul'' – April 1, 2001 *''Human Moments: How to Find Meaning and Love in Your Everyday Life'' – September 7, 2001 *''Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People'' – January 13, 2011 *''The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy'' – August 26, 2003 *''A Walk in the Rain With a Brain'' – Picture Book, September 28, 2004 *''Dare to Forgive: The Power of Letting Go and Moving On'' – January 15, 2006 *''Crazy Busy'': Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast-Paced Life – March 27, 2007 *''Superparenting for ADD'': An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child – February 23, 2010 *''Because I Come From A Crazy Family (The Making of a Psychiatrist)'' – June 12, 2018


TV appearances

Hallowell has appeared on television several times discussing ADHD. He has appeared on ''20/20'', ''60 Minutes'', the BBC, CNN, ''Dateline'', ''Good Morning America'', ''The Jane Pauley Show'', ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', ''The Dr. Phil Show'', PBS, ''The Today Show'', ''The View'', and many local news programs. He also has appeared on the ''Revolution'' show with
Ty Pennington Tygert Burton "Ty" Pennington (born Gary Tygert Burton) is an American television host, artist, carpenter, author, and former model and actor. His rise to prominence began with his role as carpenter on the TLC home improvement reality show ' ...
and
Jennifer Ashton Jennifer Lee Garfein Ashton (born April 23, 1969) is a physician, author, and television correspondent. She is chief health and medical editor and chief medical correspondent for ''ABC News'' and ''Good Morning America'', chief women's health c ...
.


Personal life

Hallowell grew up in Chatham, Massachusetts. His father had
bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...
and initially received psychiatric treatment for misdiagnosed
schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdra ...
. His mother remarried and subsequently divorced an abusive alcoholic. Hallowell had two brothers: John, who became a Hollywood reporter and died in 2015, and Ben, who graduated from the Naval Academy. Hallowell lives in the
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts, area with his wife, Sue, a social worker. They have three adult children.


Legal issue

In May 2015, Hallowell was charged for allegedly groping a makeup artist at an interview taping in 2014. Hallowell did not dispute the claim and told police the incident was a misunderstanding and any touching was "inadvertent". The accuser later said, "I may have misconstrued Dr. Hallowell’s intention, as he did nothing beyond the initial contact", and that she did not wish for Hallowell to be prosecuted. In September 2015, a judge ordered the charges to be dropped.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hallowell, Edward Living people Hallowell family Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder researchers Phillips Exeter Academy alumni Harvard College alumni Tulane University School of Medicine alumni Harvard Medical School faculty American psychiatrists 1949 births