Paper
Skills and compensation strategies in adult ADHD – A qualitative study
Published Sep 27, 2017 · C. Canela, A. Buadze, Anish R. Dube
PLoS ONE
52
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3
Influential Citations
Abstract
Objective The primary objectives of this study were to investigate how adult patients with ADHD coped with their symptoms prior to diagnosis and treatment, what skills and compensation strategies they had developed and what their self-perceptions of these strategies were. Methods We used a qualitative approach to analyze interviews with 32 outpatients of a specialty care unit at a university hospital. Results Patients reported frequent use of diverse compensatory strategies with varying degrees of effectiveness. These were classified into five categories (organizational, motoric, attentional, social, psychopharmacological). In certain circumstances, ADHD symptoms were even perceived as useful. Conclusion Before diagnosis and treatment, patients with ADHD may develop a variety of skills to cope with their symptoms. Several of these skills are perceived as helpful. Knowledge of self-generated coping strategies may help better understand patients and their histories and thus facilitate patient cooperation. Moreover, knowing ways in which such patients cope with their symptoms may help elucidate reasons for late or under-diagnosing of the disorder.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalAdult ADHD patients develop various coping strategies before diagnosis, some of which are perceived as helpful, and understanding these strategies may help improve patient cooperation and help understand late or under-diagnosis of the disorder.
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