ADHD in children: Digital test could speed up diagnosis, says NICE

A computer based test known as QbTest could soon be rolled out across the NHS to help speed up the diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children aged 6 to 17 years, says draft guidance from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.1NICE’s advisory committee has recommended that the test, which tracks participants’ movement and compares their inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity to those of a control group, should be used alongside a standard clinical assessment to aid diagnosis.Earlier this year the Nuffield Trust warned that the NHS was unable to keep up with the demand for ADHD assessments. Although no national data on ADHD waiting times or referrals exist, the think tank reported a 51% increase in prescriptions for ADHD treatments between 2019-20 and 2022-23.2Patients have told NICE that long waiting times, with some young people waiting years, are a “significant issue, causing anxiety and even suicide.” Additionally,…
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