On the way to becoming like anyone else. The experiences of being involved in their care - an interview study with adult patients with ADHD

Adults with ADHD face many challenges in their daily lives. Daily life can be made easier by learning from others or developing one's own strategies. The healthcare services can provide information and interventions, but we know little about what the adults with ADHD themselves say they need, and in which ways they are involved in their care. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences adults with ADHD have of being involved in their care. Fifteen semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed with qualitative latent content analysis that revealed one major theme: "Becoming someone like anyone else" and three sub-themes "Being connected", "Finding a place in companionship" and "Pathways to participation in care". The findings of this study emphasize that adults with ADHD express a desire to be involved in the care and treatment for their ADHD if a sense of security and their information needs are met. This involvement becomes part of what leads them towards a more self-sufficient state where they can feel like anyone else and gain more strategies to manage their daily lives.