This study interviewed six adult men with ADHD, aged 30 to 65, from one NHS specialist service in London. All were recently diagnosed and taking medication. All had steady or professional jobs, and four were parents in long-term relationships. They were chosen because they were doing well in life. Each man answered three open questions in an interview of up to one hour.
The researchers found six main themes of positive traits: cognitive dynamism, courage, energy, humanity, resilience and transcendence, built from 19 smaller themes. All six men described a mind that never stopped, natural curiosity and plenty of energy. All said they were seen as nonconformist and found it easy to start conversations. All said they would miss their sense of humor if their ADHD went away. All used some way to manage their behavior, such as breathing or relaxation.
The team compared the themes with a standard handbook of human character strengths. Two main themes, cognitive dynamism and energy, were not in it. Neither were six smaller themes, including hyper-focus and divergent thinking. The authors suggest these may be specific to ADHD.
The coping methods the men described were personal reports, not tested effects. One man used a technique that experts had scored between "possibly" and "probably" discredited (3.8 on a 1 to 5 scale).
The authors note that the sample was small and all male, and that the results are not easy to generalize.
Source: Sedgwick J, Merwood A, Asherson P. The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (2018). doi:10.1007/s12402-018-0277-6