Scattered Minds

Scattered Minds (1999) takes aim at a well-established myth: that attention deficit disorder, or ADD for short, is an inherited illness. It doesn’t deny the biological foundations of the disorder – genes also play a role. But it urges us to widen our perspective and pay closer attention to psychological and social factors that may be contributing to the symptoms. ADD often develops within specific familial and societal contexts. Recognizing this isn’t just about correcting the scientific record – it offers a key to effective treatment.

Gabor Maté is a physician specializing in neurology and psychiatry, a sought-after public speaker, and a best-selling author. He has written on topics ranging from loneliness to parenting and the psychology of addiction. Maté began researching attention deficit disorder after being diagnosed with the condition in his fifties. Scattered Minds is the result of that research.