Edward Hallowell (psychiatrist)

Hallowell has been treating people of all ages with ADHD since 1981 (Hallowell himself was diagnosed with ADHD in 1983.[2] His approach to the condition, which uses a "strength-based" model - developed with Driven to Distraction co-author Dr. John Ratey - is based on the tenets of positive psychology, taking a more holistic view of ADHD, rather than seeing it purely as a disorder with negative symptoms. This was new to the field.[3][4] 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.”[5]

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. He also serves on the ADHD Medical Review Panel for ADDitude.[6] In 2018, he was awarded the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Leader of Mental Health Awareness Award.[7] Hallowell hosts the Distraction podcast twice a week and has done so since 2015, and in October 2020, he began posting educational videos on TikTok.[8][9][10]

Hallowell and Ratey created a new term, “VAST”, Variable Attention Stimulus Trait to describe ADHD more effectively, and write about this extensively in their new book, published in January 2021.[11][12][13] ‘VAST’ stands for Variable Attention Stimulus Trait’, because people with ADHD are drawn to high stimulation situations and their attention varies based on the level of stimulation within the situation.[5]

Hallowell supports the official and updated definition of ADHD developed by the DSM-5 Task Force.[14] ADHD does not always include hyperactivity, (known as ADHD Inattentive Type), and Hallowell says that this type occurs frequently in women.[15] 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.”[5] Hallowell states that ADHD does not always include Hyperactivity but can include having an inability to follow through on assignments at work or at school, misplacing things, avoiding tasks, or getting distracted easily.[16] Hallowell also believes that hyperactivity can be misleading as a symptom, leading to individuals being undiagnosed in some cases.[5] He 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.[5]

Using this treatment model, Hallowell founded the Hallowell Centers to support and treat people with ADHD, which currently have six locations in the United States, including New York City, Seattle, and Boston.[17][18] Hallowell describes the ADHD brain as a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes.[19][20] 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;[21] 2. Getting a coach to help with the executive functioning type tasks that people with ADHD tend to struggle with;[22] 3. Lifestyle changes including good nutrition, sleep and physical exercise[23] and 4; Medication, if it is beneficial for the individual.[24] 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".[25]

Hallowell believes that, used properly, stimulant medication is safe and benefits patients with ADHD in 80% of cases. For 20% of people with ADHD, including himself, stimulant medication is not beneficial or has side effects and he does not recommend its use in these cases.[26] In 2012 Hallowell said "The fact is, stimulant medication is safer than aspirin. It has fewer side effects and works better than caffeine, and everybody goes to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. So, not to try it, unless it’s against your religion, makes no sense. People say, ‘Well, shouldn’t I try a year of non-medical approaches first?’ That's like saying shouldn't I try a year of squinting before I try eyeglasses. It just makes no sense. These meds are so well researched. They've been around since 1937. That's 70 years of experience. Nothing lasts that long unless it's safe and it works. Most entrepreneurs have ADHD. I think it should be renamed the entrepreneur's trait".[27][28][29] Hallowell has claimed that Einstein, Mozart, Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln all had ADHD.[30]

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

Hallowell attended Phillips Exeter Academy. He obtained a first degree in English from Harvard then received a medical degree from Tulane University Medical School.[38][1]In 1999, Hallowell received an honorary Doctor of Human Letters from Landmark College.[39]

Hallowell grew up in Chatham, Massachusetts.[40] His father suffered from bipolar disorder and received psychiatric treatment.[41] He recovered and spent most of his life teaching in public schools. His mother remarried and subsequently divorced an abusive alcoholic.[42] Hallowell had two brothers, John who became a Hollywood reporter and died in 2015, and Ben who graduated from the Naval Academy.[43]

Hallowell lives in the Boston area with his wife, Sue, a social worker, and they have three adult children.[44]

In May 2015, Hallowell was charged for allegedly groping a makeup artist at an interview taping in 2014 which he denied entirely. Hallowell told police the incident was a misunderstanding and any touching was "inadvertent".[45] The accuser later said they "may have misconstrued [his] intention" and that they didn't wish for Hallowell to be prosecuted. In September 2015, a judge ordered charges be dropped.[46]

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