Rethinking conceptualizations of adult ADHD and how care is provided: a qualitative study

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition that frequently persists into adulthood. Adults with ADHD often have unmet needs including experiencing high rates of substance use disorders, incarceration, and unemployment. Despite having unmet needs, there is little research on how adults with ADHD conceptualize their condition and how they believe the care they receive could be improved. We aimed to better understand what adults with ADHD would like the medical community to know about what it is like to live with ADHD and to characterize possible misconceptions of ADHD they would like to see addressed. MethodNine online focus groups involving young adults (aged 18-35 years, N = 43) recruited from online communities for people with ADHD were conducted. Data were analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis framework. ResultsIndividually, participants reported wanting increased support, education, and rejection of stigma. Structurally, participants reported desiring ADHD to be reframed as a difference as opposed to a disorder, viewing of ADHD as a mismatch with their environments, and wanting the condition to be viewed through the lens of what it is like to embody the condition. ConclusionsIncorporating patient-lived experiences into psychiatric diagnoses may increase diagnostic patient-centeredness and help healthcare providers better meet patient needs.