NICE recommends use of a digital technology to help diagnose ADHD 

New draft guidance published by NICE recommends the use of the digital technology ‘Qbtest’ to help diagnose ADHD in children and young people.

QbTest is a technology that supports objective assessment within the ADHD diagnosis pathway, helping to supplement clinical judgement by measuring a patient’s attention, impulsivity, and motor activity – the three core symptoms of ADHD.

Developed by company Qbtech and tested in the East Midlands, the technology has been rolled out across England from 2020 as part of the Focus ADHD programme, led by England’s 15 Health Innovation Networks.

A total of 79 NHS trusts have adopted the technology since 2020 – around three quarters of all trusts that provide ADHD diagnosis – benefiting more than 70,000 young people.

Evaluation of the technology within the East Midlands showed it can help speed up the time from assessment to diagnosis reduced by an average of 153 days.

This increases staff capacity by reducing the number of appointments needed for diagnosis, since April 2020 an estimated 20,439 NHS appointments have been freed up across England, saving the NHS an estimated £24M, and enabling redirection of resources to other parts of the ADHD care pathway.