Over the past couple of years, there has been a noticeable increase in the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses among children and young people, but its diagnosis was difficult and one had to forcibly rely on subjective assessments.

A new clinical trial executed under lead investigator, Professor Chris Hollis from the University of Nottingham in the UK, revealed that by adding a computerized test of attention and activity (QbTest) to standard subjective assessments, the clinicians could easily make a diagnostic decision on ADHD, with proper accuracy.

This AQUA study was funded by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands and was supported by NIHR Mental Health MedTech Co-operative.

Professor Chris Hollis said, "The AQUA trial is ground-breaking because it is the first independent randomized-controlled study to demonstrate that an objective assessment technology (QbTest) can increase the speed and efficiency of diagnostic decision-making in ADHD. The clinicians who had access to a QbTest report were faster in reaching diagnostic decisions with no overall loss of diagnostic accuracy.”

Professor Hollis further stated, "Interestingly, clinicians with a QbTest report were more likely than those without a QbTest report on a young person to exclude a diagnosis of ADHD. The results suggest that QbTest is ready for implementation within the ADHD assessment pathway in the UK, and other countries with similarly long delays to diagnosis, where it is likely to lead to earlier diagnostic decisions and significant healthcare system efficiencies."