ADHD Isn't Just a Deficit: New Study Reveals Powerful Psychological Strengths

[erronis]

https://scitechdaily.com/adhd-isnt-just-a-deficit-new-study-reveals-powerful-psychological-strengths/
By Vittoria D'Alessio, University of Bath

Adults with ADHD who understand and apply their personal strengths experience better well-being and fewer mental health difficulties.

A new international study reports that adults with ADHD who are aware of their personal strengths and use them regularly tend to experience higher well-being, better quality of life, and fewer mental health problems.

Scientists from the University of Bath, King’s College London, and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands conducted the first large-scale investigation designed to measure psychological strengths in adults with ADHD.

Published in Psychological Medicine, the study compared 200 adults with ADHD and 200 adults without ADHD, examining how strongly participants identified with 25 positive characteristics. These traits included creativity, humor, spontaneity, and hyperfocus, which researchers described as “things [they] do well or best.”

Although ADHD is commonly linked to difficulties such as impulsivity, forgetfulness, and inattention, the findings point to a different perspective by emphasizing the importance of recognizing and making use of individual strengths.

Reference: “The role of psychological strengths in positive life outcomes in adults with ADHD” by Luca D. Hargitai, Emma L. M. Laan, Lessa M. Schippers, Lucy A. Livingston, Graeme Fairchild, Punit Shah and Martine Hoogman, 6 October 2025, Psychological Medicine.
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291725101232

[gay texan]

1. That's a good description of me

I've made a lot of money because of hyperfocus.

On the other hand, i can forget to brush my teeth

[erronis]

4. I have the forgetful bit down pat. Need to work on making (and keeping) some money.

[hlthe2b]

2. I used to live next door to the preeminent psychiatric expert on adult ADD and had some amazing discussions with him

The prevalence among those with doctoral level training is incredibly high--whether it be male or female, MDs, DVMs, DDS, JDs (attorneys), PhDs and others I may have overlooked. They don't get diagnosed until later in life when the coping skills they used when younger cease to be enough with the fatigue that comes with age and busy life. Those early coping mechanisms included the ability to get by on little sleep, semi/photographic memory that allowed for the ability to digest tons of pages of written material in school, the ability to hyperfocus when necessary albeit lots of distractions/multitasking otherwise, lots of caffeine/nicotine (in lieu of adderall or other amphetamine type ADD drugs), etc.

When they do get diagnosed in mid-life, a real lightbulb goes off, but as he said, more stress, but the patterns tend to stay the same.

[AloeVera]

6. Describes my experience to a tee!

All those ADD abilities - ability to digest vast quantities of information, photographic memory, hyperfocus etc - helped me a lot in my academic and professional life but boy, it was exhausting to live like that. Finally diagnosed in late middle age, close to retirement so a bit late to the party. Yes, the patterns repeat but now I have tools and know what I am dealing with. In any case, I can attest to what you and the article are saying!

[LakeVermilion]

3. Some pretty good qualities...

(self diagnosed)

[Thunderbeast]

5. My favorite documentary on the topic

Created by Patrick McKenna... of the old RED GREEN show.

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