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A review by amandakitz
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder by Gabor Maté
5.0
**update** I just read the community reviews and want to remind readers that THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN 23 YEARS AGO. The references to ADHD research you're asking for are fewer than I'd prefer too, but considering the majority of modern ADHD research has happened within that 23 years, yes, there are fewer references and a lot of newer research out there. The notes and bibliography are still several pages. I still think his perspective on the environmental influences on genetically predisposed brains is worth examining. Read more current research, absolutely! But please, for the love of pete, look at the copyright date before you go off.
***
Great book with excellent insight into ADHD especially from a child development and attachment perspective. Very interesting to see how public and medical understanding of ADHD has changed since this was published in 1999, both due to the ongoing and increasing prevalence and new insights from new research.
As someone with cPTSD who is very familiar with child development and attachment research AND is getting assessed for ADHD, it was fascinating to see the parallels drawn by Dr Maté between those early attachment disruptions and the experience of ADHD symptoms. The idea that childhood trauma at worst or even minor attachment issues could disrupt healthy neurophysiological development and cause some of these lasting effects, especially if there is a biological predisposition to it and especially if the child is particularly sensitive, seems extremely reasonable. I'm surprised I haven't heard it mentioned elsewhere as a contributing factor to the development of ADHD. Im going to do some follow-up research of course, but the ideas presented are very persuasive.
The writing was extremely well organized with excellent style and very accessible. Great book
***
Great book with excellent insight into ADHD especially from a child development and attachment perspective. Very interesting to see how public and medical understanding of ADHD has changed since this was published in 1999, both due to the ongoing and increasing prevalence and new insights from new research.
As someone with cPTSD who is very familiar with child development and attachment research AND is getting assessed for ADHD, it was fascinating to see the parallels drawn by Dr Maté between those early attachment disruptions and the experience of ADHD symptoms. The idea that childhood trauma at worst or even minor attachment issues could disrupt healthy neurophysiological development and cause some of these lasting effects, especially if there is a biological predisposition to it and especially if the child is particularly sensitive, seems extremely reasonable. I'm surprised I haven't heard it mentioned elsewhere as a contributing factor to the development of ADHD. Im going to do some follow-up research of course, but the ideas presented are very persuasive.
The writing was extremely well organized with excellent style and very accessible. Great book