The NHS has recommended the use of an online test, QbTest, to potentially speed up the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.
QbTest, a computer-based assessment, tracks patients’ movements while evaluating the three primary symptoms of ADHD – inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The results are then compared with those of patients of the same age who do not have ADHD.
Evidence from trials indicates that these tests could increase the number of young patients receiving a diagnosis or having ADHD ruled out within six months.
Currently, those suspected of having ADHD undergo a detailed assessment, which may include interviews with the child, their parents, or teachers, and a physical examination to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms.
In its draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has advised the NHS to use QbTest alongside standard clinical assessment to aid in diagnosing patients aged six to 17.
According to ADHD UK, approximately 2.6 million people in the UK have ADHD, including over 700,000 children. Currently, there is no national data published on referrals or waiting times for ADHD assessments. However, a 2022 survey by the Petitions Committee found that among patients who had received an ADHD diagnosis, 14% waited two to three years for an NHS assessment, 27% waited between one and two years, and another 27% waited between six months and one year.
Mark Chapman, director of Nice’s HealthTech programme, stated, “Young people with ADHD ‘deserve to receive a diagnosis in a timely manner’.” He added, “We’re committed to ensuring we get the best care to people fast while providing value for money to the taxpayer. This technology has the potential to generate tangible benefits to the lives of those waiting for an ADHD diagnosis.
A consultation on the draft guidance is now underway.
Henry Shelford, chief executive of ADHD UK, said, “Improving ADHD wait times in the UK is important – especially for children. You can’t rewind the clock on lost school years, and with childhood wait times of up to five years, these wait times are rewriting the lives of young people with ADHD. This technology aids ADHD specialist clinicians and can speed up diagnosis, freeing up time for others to be assessed.”
Mr. Shelford added that Nice “has been revolutionary in getting support for people with ADHD.” He further stated, “Nice looked past ADHD stigma and went out on a limb to write the first ADHD guidelines. Guidelines that required NHS recognition, assessment, and treatment of ADHD. That has been a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people.”
