Edward Hallowell (psychiatrist)

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Edward Hallowell
Edward Hallowell.jpg
Hallowell talking about the brain
Born (1949-12-02) December 2, 1949 (age 74)
NationalityAmerican
Education Phillips Exeter Academy
Harvard College (BA)
Tulane University School of Medicine (MD)
OccupationPsychiatrist
Medical career
FieldADHD
Notable worksDistraction series

Edward McKey Hallowell (born December 2, 1949) [1] is an American psychiatrist, speaker, New York Times best-selling author and podcast host. He specializes in ADHD (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. [2] [3]

Contents

Education

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 [3] and a medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. [4] Hallowell completed his residency in adult and child psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. [5]

ADHD career

Hallowell has been treating people of all ages with ADHD since 1981, and has stated that he has dyslexia [6] and ADHD, [7] which is self-diagnosed. [8] His approach to the condition uses a strength-based model—developed with Driven to Distraction co-author Dr. 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. [9] [10]

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. [11] [12] 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; [13] 2) getting a coach to help with the executive functioning type tasks that people with ADHD tend to struggle with; [14] 3) lifestyle changes, including good nutrition, sleep and physical exercise; [15] and 4) medication, if it is beneficial for the individual. [16] 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." [17] Hallowell believes ADHD is due to a "biochemical imbalance in the brain". [18]

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". [19] 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. [20] Hallowell estimated that 15% of the population have ADHD. [20] The DSM state 5% have it.

Hallowell believes that Adderall and other stimulant drugs are safer than aspirin. He also believes Coffee is more toxic than Adderall. [21] Hallowell has been a paid consultant for McNeil Pediatrics, who make stimulant drugs including Adderall and Concerta. [22]

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. [23] [24]

Hallowell supports the official and updated definition of ADHD developed by the DSM-5 Task Force. [25] ADHD does not always include hyperactivity, and Hallowell says that this type, known as ADHD Inattentive Type, occurs frequently in women. [26] 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. [27] Hallowell also believes that hyperactivity can be a misleading symptom and can lead to individuals going undiagnosed in some cases. [17] Hallowell has described the ADHD brain as a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes. [28] [29]

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. Indeed, by 2013, one in five boys in US high schools were considered to have it, with the majority receiving medication. [30]

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. [31] [32] [33] 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. [17] 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. [17]

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. [34] In 2018, he was awarded the National Alliance on Mental Illness' Leader of Mental Health Awareness Award. [35] Hallowell has been a podcast host since 2015. In October 2020, he began posting educational videos on TikTok. [36] [ non-primary source needed ] [37] [2]

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. [38]

Books

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

Distraction series

Other books

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. [46] He also has appeared on the Revolution show with Ty Pennington and Jennifer Ashton. [47]

Personal life

Hallowell grew up in Chatham, Massachusetts. [48] His father had bipolar disorder and initially received psychiatric treatment for misdiagnosed schizophrenia. [49] [50] His mother remarried and subsequently divorced an abusive alcoholic. [51] Hallowell had two brothers: John, who became a Hollywood reporter and died in 2015, and Ben, who graduated from the Naval Academy. [52]

Hallowell lives in the Boston, Massachusetts, area with his wife, Sue, a social worker. They have three adult children. [53]

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</span> Neurodevelopmental disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive dysfunction occasioning symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and developmentally-inappropriate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methylphenidate</span> Central nervous system stimulant

Methylphenidate, sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used medically to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, to a lesser extent, narcolepsy. It is a first-line treatment for ADHD ; it may be taken by mouth or applied to the skin, and different formulations have varying durations of effect. For ADHD, the effectiveness of methylphenidate is comparable to atomoxetine but modestly lower than amphetamines, alleviating the executive functioning deficits of sustained attention, inhibition, working memory, reaction time and emotional self-regulation.

Developmental disorders comprise a group of psychiatric conditions originating in childhood that involve serious impairment in different areas. There are several ways of using this term. The most narrow concept is used in the category "Specific Disorders of Psychological Development" in the ICD-10. These disorders comprise developmental language disorder, learning disorders, developmental coordination disorders, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In broader definitions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is included, and the term used is neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet others include antisocial behavior and schizophrenia that begins in childhood and continues through life. However, these two latter conditions are not as stable as the other developmental disorders, and there is not the same evidence of a shared genetic liability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomoxetine</span> Medication used to treat ADHD

Atomoxetine, sold under the brand name Strattera, is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, to a lesser extent, cognitive disengagement syndrome. It may be used alone or along with psychostimulants. It enhances the executive functions of self-motivation, sustained attention, inhibition, working memory, reaction time and emotional self-regulation. Use of atomoxetine is only recommended for those who are at least six years old. It is taken orally. The effectiveness of atomoxetine is comparable to the commonly prescribed stimulant medication methylphenidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adderall</span> Drug mixture used mainly to treat ADHD and narcolepsy

Adderall and Mydayis are trade names for a combination drug containing four salts of amphetamine. The mixture is composed of equal parts racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which produces a (3:1) ratio between dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine, the two enantiomers of amphetamine. Both enantiomers are stimulants, but differ enough to give Adderall an effects profile distinct from those of racemic amphetamine or dextroamphetamine, which are marketed as Evekeo and Dexedrine/Zenzedi, respectively. Adderall is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is also used illicitly as an athletic performance enhancer, cognitive enhancer, appetite suppressant, and recreationally as a euphoriant. It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the phenethylamine class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexmethylphenidate</span> CNS Stimulant

Dexmethylphenidate, sold under the brand name Focalin among others, is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in those over the age of five years. It is taken by mouth. The immediate release formulation lasts up to five hours while the extended release formulation lasts up to twelve hours. It is the more active enantiomer of methylphenidate.

Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) into adulthood. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning impairing symptoms must have been present in childhood, except for when ADHD occurs after traumatic brain injury. Specifically, multiple symptoms must be present before the age of 12, according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The cutoff age of 12 is a change from the previous requirement of symptom onset, which was before the age of 7 in the DSM-IV. This was done to add flexibility in the diagnosis of adults. ADHD was previously thought to be a childhood disorder that improved with age, but recent research has disproved this. Approximately two-thirds of childhood cases of ADHD continue into adulthood, with varying degrees of symptom severity that change over time and continue to affect individuals with symptoms ranging from minor inconveniences to impairments in daily functioning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Barkley</span> American psychologist and author (born 1949)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guanfacine</span> Medication used for high blood pressure and ADHD

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive, is one of the three presentations of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 1987–1994, there were no subtypes or presentations and thus it was not distinguished from hyperactive ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III-R). In DSM-5, subtypes were discarded and reclassified as presentations of the same disorder that change over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder controversies</span> Controversies surrounding the topic of ADHDs nature, diagnosis, and treatment

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Edward Hallowell may refer to:

ADDitude magazine is a quarterly consumer publication about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder owned and operated by WebMD, LLC in New York, NY. It contains feature and service articles about ADD, ADHD and comorbid conditions including depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities like dyslexia. It addresses topics including: diagnosing ADHD in children and adults, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder management and treatments including medication and/or alternative therapies, parenting children with ADHD, learning disabilities and school challenges, and living with adult ADHD. ADDitude magazine is described by child psychotherapist Keath Low as "The happy, healthy lifestyle magazine for people with ADD." It aims to be an advocate for children and adults with ADHD.

Hyperactivity has long been part of the human condition, although hyperactive behaviour has not always been seen as problematic.

Driven to Distraction may refer to:

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<i>Take Your Pills</i> Film

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Body doubling or parallel working is a strategy used to initiate and complete tasks, such as household chores or writing and other computer tasks. It involves the physical presence, virtual presence through a phone call, videotelephony or social media presence, of someone with whom one shares their goals, which makes it more likely to achieve them. For some people, it works best to both do similar tasks, while for others, just being in the same (virtual) room is enough.

References

  1. ↑ "Edward M Hallowell in Arlington, MA".
  2. 1 2 "Biography". Dr Hallowell.
  3. 1 2 "Hallowell, Edward M(cKey)". Encyclopedia.com . Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ ADHD Nation – Alan Schwarz – 2016
  5. ↑ "Edward M. Hallowell". Bloomsbury Publishing (CA). Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Your FREE eBook..." ADDspark. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Unpacking ADHD". Goop. August 6, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  8. ↑ "I'm a psychiatrist because I come from a crazy family – and I have ADD". October 2018.
  9. ↑ EdwardHallowell, Psychiatrist (March 25, 2020). "Getting Help For ADHD". TotallyADD. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. ↑ Hoffman, Karen. "When Dr. Barkley met Dr. Hallowell" (PDF). ADHD Neither.
  11. ↑ "ADDitude's ADHD Medical Review Panel". ADDitude. October 2, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Contact Us and Directions". Dr. Hallowell. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The 7 Best Books About ADHD". MindMed. May 20, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  14. ↑ "What Does An ADHD Doctor Diagnose For The Frustrated, Distracted, Overwhelmed Executive?". EOS Implementer™ – Wayne Kurzen. September 3, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ Schwan, Henry. "Dr. Edward Hallowell, ADHD expert, to deliver talk at Wayland High School". Wicked Local. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Joho, Jess (August 17, 2020). "Everything you thought you knew about ADHD is wrong". Mashable. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Medication Management – Dr. Hallowell". The Hallowell ADHD Centers.
  19. ↑ Pittsburgh Morning Star. September 15, 2005.
  20. 1 2 "It Really is All About the Child: An Interview with Dr. Edward Hallowell" (PDF). Montessori Life (Interview). Winter 2012–2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Dr Hallowell talks about Adderall". YouTube .
  22. ↑ Parker-Pope, Tara (October 25, 2008). "Can attention deficit be framed as a gift?". The New York Times .
  23. ↑ Young, Susan; Gudjonsson, Gisli; Chitsabesan, Prathiba; Colley, Bill; Farrag, Emad; Forrester, Andrew; Hollingdale, Jack; Kim, Keira; Lewis, Alexandra; Maginn, Sarah; Mason, Peter; Ryan, Sarah; Smith, Jade; Woodhouse, Emma; Asherson, Philip (September 4, 2018). "Identification and treatment of offenders with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the prison population: a practical approach based upon expert consensus". BMC Psychiatry. 18 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 281. doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1858-9 . ISSN   1471-244X. PMC   6122636 . PMID   30180832.
  24. ↑ "I'm a psychiatrist because I come from a crazy family – and I have ADD". inews.co.uk. October 1, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  25. ↑ "DSM-5® Diagnostic Criteria | For Adult ADHD". www.qandadhd.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Women with ADHD". Dr. Hallowell. October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ Grant, Eva Taylor (May 7, 2018). "7 Unfairly Stigmatized Health Issues You Should Know More About".
  28. ↑ "The Truth about ADHD". Time . Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Your ADHD Brain is a Ferrari". Dr. Hallowell. April 5, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  30. ↑ https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2022/12/rise-adhd-diagnoses-attention-deficit-disorder
  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. ↑ "ADHD 2.0". goodreads.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  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. ↑ "Dr Ned Hallowell (@drhallowell) TikTok | Watch Dr Ned Hallowell's Newest TikTok Videos". TikTok. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Books by Ned". Dr. Hallowell. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Interview with Edward "Ned" Hallowell, MD".
  39. ↑ 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.
  40. ↑ 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.
  41. ↑ 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.
  42. ↑ 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.
  43. ↑ 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)
  44. ↑ 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.
  45. ↑ Archer, Michelle (April 16, 2006). "Too busy to read this book? Then you really need to". USA Today . Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  46. ↑ "Media / Press".
  47. ↑ "Ned Hallowell/Ty Pennington talk about ADHD" – via YouTube.
  48. ↑ "Dr. Edward Hallowell". Distraction. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  49. ↑ 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.
  50. ↑ 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.
  51. ↑ "Dr. Dad Gives Thanks for Impossible Families". The New York Times. November 25, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  52. ↑ 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.
  53. ↑ "Meet Dr. Hallowell". Dr Hallowell ADHD and mental and cognitive health. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
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