Edward Hallowell (psychiatrist)

Edward Hallowell
Hallowell talking about the brain
Born (1949-12-02) December 2, 1949 (age 76)
EducationPhillips Exeter Academy
Harvard College (BA)
Tulane University School of Medicine (MD)
OccupationPsychiatrist
Medical career
ResearchADHD
Notable worksDistraction series

Edward McKey Hallowell (born December 2, 1949) is an American psychiatrist, speaker, New York Times best-selling author and podcast host. He specializes in ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Hallowell is the founder of the Hallowell ADHD Centers, and is the author of 20 books, including the "Driven to Distraction" book series, co-authored with John Ratey.

Early life and education

Hallowell grew up in Chatham, Massachusetts. His father had bipolar disorder and initially received psychiatric treatment for misdiagnosed schizophrenia. His mother remarried and subsequently divorced an abusive alcoholic. Hallowell had two brothers.

Hallowell is an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College and Tulane University School of Medicine. He received a bachelor's degree in English from Harvard College and a medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. Hallowell completed his residency in adult and child psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Career

Hallowell has been treating people of all ages with ADHD since 1981, and has stated that he has dyslexia and ADHD, which is self-diagnosed. His approach to the condition uses a strength-based model—developed with Driven to Distraction co-author John Ratey—that is based on the tenets of positive psychology 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 set up the ADHD Hallowell Centers. 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 and understanding 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 is ignorance and stigma. The contentiousness around ADHD is simply rooted in ignorance." Hallowell believes the symptoms of ADHD are due to "biochemical differences in the brain" that lead to a "chemical imbalance", which can be treated with medication.

Hallowell says once stimulant drugs work "They work like eyeglasses. Suddenly you can see". Hallowell believes that Adderall and other stimulant drugs are safer than aspirin. He also believes Coffee is more toxic than Adderall. Hallowell has been a paid consultant for McNeil Pediatrics, who make stimulant drugs including Adderall and Concerta.

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 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. He is 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.

According to Sophie McBain in a New Statesman article in 2022, Hallowell was part of a small circle of professionals, drug companies and advocacy groups who pushed for a loosening of the diagnostic criteria, fuelling a precipitous rise in ADHD diagnosis rates in the US.

Sexually inappropriate behavior and remarks

In May 2015, Hallowell was charged with sexually groping a make up artist in 2014. The case was dismissed following pre-trial probation.

In October 2024, Hallowell was admonished by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for making sexually inappropriate remarks towards a patient and his partner. Hallowell himself "admitted in a Consent Order that he directed two sexually inappropriate comments towards a patient and his partner. These comments were unrelated to treatment and shocked and offended the patient and his partner".

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 and Jennifer Ashton. In this he asked an audience member named "Alicia" six questions. Based on her answers, he concluded that she has ADHD and said stimulant medication was safer than aspirin.

Personal life

Hallowell lives in the Boston, Massachusetts, area with his wife, Sue, a social worker. They have three adult children.

Books

Distraction series

Other books

References

  1. ↑ "Edward M Hallowell in Arlington, MA".
  2. 1 2 Rhodes, Giulia (September 22, 2018). "'Mental illness swam in my genes': why I was born to be a psychiatrist". The Guardian. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Biography". Dr Hallowell.
  4. 1 2 "Hallowell, Edward M(cKey)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Edward Hallowell". Distraction. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (2018). Because I come from a crazy family : the making of a psychiatrist. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781632868602. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Dr. Dad Gives Thanks for Impossible Families". The New York Times. November 25, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  8. ↑ Axelson, David (November 10, 2017). "Navy Old Goats And Kids Who Care Combine To Honor Wounded Warriors This Weekend". Coronado Eagle & Journal | Coronado News | Coronado Island News. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ ADHD Nation – Alan Schwarz – 2016
  10. ↑ "Edward M. Hallowell". Bloomsbury Publishing (CA). Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Dr Hallowell talks about Adderall". YouTube. March 10, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Your FREE eBook..." Addspark. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Unpacking ADHD". Goop. August 6, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ "I'm a psychiatrist because I come from a crazy family – and I have ADD". October 2018.
  15. ↑ EdwardHallowell, Psychiatrist (March 25, 2020). "Getting Help For ADHD". TotallyADD. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  16. ↑ Hoffman, Karen. "When Dr. Barkley met Dr. Hallowell" (PDF). ADHD Neither.
  17. ↑ "ADDitude's ADHD Medical Review Panel". ADDitude. October 2, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Contact Us and Directions". Dr. Hallowell. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  19. ↑ "FAQs - Dr. Hallowell". Dr. Hallowell - The Hallowell ADHD Centers. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  20. ↑ Schwan, Henry. "Dr. Edward Hallowell, ADHD expert, to deliver talk at Wayland High School". Wicked Local. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  21. ↑ Strauss, Valerie. "'If you can pay attention, you do not have ADHD' — and 9 other misperceptions about the disorder". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Joho, Jess (August 17, 2020). "Everything you thought you knew about ADHD is wrong". Mashable. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Medication Management – Dr. Hallowell". The Hallowell ADHD Centers.
  24. ↑ "Dr Hallowell, Jennifer Ashton and Ty Pennington talk about ADHD". YouTube. July 18, 2019.
  25. ↑ Parker-Pope, Tara (October 25, 2008). "Can attention deficit be framed as a gift?". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ "DSM-5® Diagnostic Criteria | For Adult ADHD". www.qandadhd.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Women with ADHD". Dr. Hallowell. October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  28. ↑ Grant, Eva Taylor (May 7, 2018). "7 Unfairly Stigmatized Health Issues You Should Know More About".
  29. ↑ "The Truth about ADHD". Time. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Your ADHD Brain is a Ferrari". Dr. Hallowell. April 5, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  31. ↑ "The Future of ADHD is VAST (SM)". Dr. Hallowell. October 24, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Point of View". Psychotherapy Networker. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  33. ↑ Edward m. Hallowell, M. D.; John j. Ratey, M. D. (January 12, 2021). ADHD 2.0. Random House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-399-17875-7.
  34. ↑ "Edward Hallowell, M.D.: Psychiatrist and Bestselling Author". ADDitude. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  35. ↑ "NAMI-NYS E-Newsletter 8-16-18". myemail.constantcontact.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  36. ↑ "The great attention deficit: What's fuelling the rise in adult ADHD?". December 14, 2022.
  37. ↑ McNamara, Brittney (May 21, 2015). "Police: Accused Sudbury doctor does not dispute victim's claims". The MetroWest Daily News. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Groping case against Sudbury doctor to be dismissed after probation". Patriot Ledger. September 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Massachusetts Board of Medicine Takes Disciplinary Action – October 24, 2024".
  40. ↑ "Media / Press". Addspark.
  41. ↑ "Ned Hallowell/Ty Pennington talk about ADHD". July 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  42. ↑ "Meet Dr. Hallowell". Dr Hallowell ADHD and mental and cognitive health. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  43. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M.; Ratey, John J. (September 13, 2011) [1st pub. 1994]. Driven to distraction: recognizing and coping with attention deficit disorder from childhood through adulthood (1st Anchor books revised and updated ed.). New York, NY: Anchor Books. ISBN 978-0-307-74315-2. OCLC 699763760.
  44. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M.; Ratey, John J. (2005). Delivered from distraction: getting the most out of life with attention deficit disorder (1st ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-44230-X. OCLC 55596855.
  45. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M.; Ratey, John J. (2010). Answers to distraction (Revised and updated ed.). New York: Anchor Books. ISBN 978-0-307-45639-7. OCLC 642004130.
  46. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M.; Hallowell, Sue; Orlov, Melissa (February 8, 2011) [1st pub. March 16, 2010]. Married to distraction: how to restore intimacy and strengthen your partnership in an age of interruption (Ballantine books trade paperback ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-50800-3. OCLC 646113441.
  47. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (January 6, 2015). Driven to distraction at work: how to focus and be more productive. Boston, Massachusetts. ISBN 978-1-4221-8641-1. OCLC 872622416.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  48. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M.; Ratey, John J. (January 12, 2021). ADHD 2.0: new science and essential strategies for thriving with distraction-from childhood through adulthood (First ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-399-17873-3. OCLC 1151497573.
  49. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (1997). Finding the Heart of the Child: Essays on Children, Families, and Schools. NAIS (published January 1, 1997). ISBN 9780934338929.
  50. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (May 17, 1996). When You Worry About The Child You Love: Emotional and Learning Problems in Children. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780684800905.
  51. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (2011). Worry: Hope and Help for a Common Condition. Westminster: Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-345-42458-7.
  52. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (2013). Connect: 12 Vital Ties That Open Your Heart, Lengthen Your Life, and Deepen Your Soul. Westminster: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-375-40357-6.
  53. ↑ Hallowell, Edward (September 7, 2001). Human Moments: How to Find Meaning and Love in Your Everyday Life. Hci. ISBN 9781558749108.
  54. ↑ Hallowell, Edward (January 13, 2011). Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People. Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN 978-1591399230.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  55. ↑ Hallowell, Edward (August 26, 2003). The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy. Randomhouse Publishing Group. ISBN 9780345442338.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  56. ↑ Hallowell, Edward (2004). A Walk in the Rain with a Brain. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060007317.
  57. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (2004). Dare to Forgive: The Power of Letting Go and Moving On (1st ed.). New York: Health Communications, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-7573-0010-3.
  58. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (March 28, 2006). CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Coping in a World Gone ADD. Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345482433.
  59. ↑ Jensen, Peter S. (2008). Superparenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child. Edward M. Hallowell. Westminster: Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-345-49776-5.
  60. ↑ Hallowell, Edward M. (2018). Because I Come from a Crazy Family: The Making of a Psychiatrist. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-63286-860-2.