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

[2][3] Hallowell is an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College and Tulane University School of Medicine.

[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.

[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."

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.

[21] Hallowell has been a paid consultant for McNeil Pediatrics, who make stimulant drugs including Adderall and Concerta.

[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.

[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.

[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.

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