http://www.alternet.org/adhd-brains-are-most-creative-why-do-we-treat-it-disability?paging=off

This article reviews research on the link between creativity and ADHD.

I'd love to see research on treated vs untreated ADHD and creativity.

Anecdatally, I'd say that "treatment" doesn't really make ADHD go away-- just makes it more manageable. The creativity seems to remain whether or not the ADHD is treated. What changes is the ability to function in ways that society recognizes-- possibly making the creativity more relevant to more people in the process.

I doubt it. More likely it would make it easier for her to get the vivid writing onto paper without bouncing.

Most of the relevant meds are short-acting-- easy to try, not much downside to a short-term tryout. (Though you have to check family history, etc, first of course!) We do prefer an expert provider over a general practitioner-- choice of medication is important.

AFAIK, not all ADHD people have impaired WM, btw.

Very interesting article. My daughter was identified as gifted and scored in the 99% on the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. She has been diagnosed as ADHD in the past, but now carries an Asperger's diagnosis. She is a composer, author and at times an artist. She amazes me with what she can do at times. I did medicate her for a time while she was diagnosed with ADHD, and I can tell you, it was like the lights went out. She was dull, lifeless, and it seemed her inner "spark" was gone. She stopped writing her stories. For her, medication handicapped her in a way and took away the best part of her. I don't have a good explanation for this, but could be because she didn't actually have ADHD neurologically. It would be interesting to get some comments from a parent that had a creatively gifted child with ADD/ADHD to see if they noted a difference on meds? I wonder if the coping mechanisms they develop from poor executive functioning in some way give them creative super powers, almost like the blind person who develops super hearing? Nice article, thanks for sharing!

MON, how old is your DD again? I am wondering because many grownups and teens after all self medicate with caffeine to help them focus without them losing their energy. If she's a preteen, you might want to offer her green tea or, if she's a teen already, an espresso to see whether the stimulant helps her harness her creative energies in useful ways- and the green tea at least has been proven in Japanese studies to keep school age children healthy during the winter months...

My DS7 is starting to fit an ADHD diagnosis (we'll know more this year)- superior processing and gifted working memory-- doesn't quite fit the profile, but if you saw his behavior.....
He's inattentive to anything he's not interested in, impulsive, and emotionally intense.
Highly creative, self driven toward creative tasks. The other night he made a 3D church out of paper. Totally his initiative and idea.
Of course this is anecdotal, but DS seems to love creative tasks-- we are always smiling at his ideas (well, except the ones that are messy or dangerous or expensive).

IMO if a med is altering personality substantially, it's probably the wrong med.

It's pretty easy to get into trouble when non-expert prescribers use a one-size-fits-all method. I would never let our excellent pediatrician prescribe these-- we go to someone who has nuanced understanding of the particulars of the child and the med.

OTOH, I don't see disabling levels of hyperactivity as an intrinsic part of personality-- if a person is more able to function when medicated, sometimes it's a relief. My DS once reported that the meds help him be his best self. He appreciates being able to meet others' expectations and feel successful. Sometimes you can't judge this from the outside-- I'd want to know if the person is happier and feels more successful on or off meds.