Qbtech’s computer-based diagnostic tool QbTest has been recommended by the UK’s National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) to support the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
QbTest uses motion-tracking technology to measure key ADHD symptoms, including inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The system generates visual reports that compare patient data to a normative control group, assisting doctors in making quicker, more accurate diagnostic decisions.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test has already been implemented across 15 health and innovation networks in England through the FOCUS ADHD programme, which is funded by NHS England. This integration has resulted in the release of over 95,000 hours of healthcare capacity and saved 1,582 clinical appointments across the NHS, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Results from a randomised controlled trial (NCT02209116) found that using QbTest alongside the standard ADHD assessment led to faster diagnostic decisions, without reducing accuracy. Data showed that 44% more patients received diagnostic decisions within six months compared to traditional methods alone.
NIHR ARC East Midlands mental health and well-being theme lead and University of Nottingham professor of psychiatry Richard Morriss said: “From a clinical perspective, QbTest has allowed clinical services to reach a diagnosis of ADHD or other explanations for their symptoms more quickly and with greater confidence. These services are in massive demand from the NHS, so this technology is needed more than ever before.”
This news comes shortly after NHS England launched an ADHD task force in collaboration with the government, in response to the rising demand for ADHD resources and support across the UK.
The scale of this need was underscored earlier this month when Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust announced it would stop accepting new ADHD referrals due to “unsustainable levels of demand”. According to the trust, it currently has 4,500 people on its waiting list, receiving more than ten times the number of referrals it can manage.
Healthcare reform has become a central topic in the UK, with the newly elected Labour government facing mounting pressure to address an NHS described as “in serious trouble” by Lord Darzi’s September 2024 report. The government has emphasised the role of digital technology in reforming the NHS, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighting AI as a key tool to transform care. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also pledged to shift the NHS “from analogue to digital”, aligning with the recommendations of Darzi’s report.
According to a report on GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, there will be 460,081 cases of ADHD in the UK in 2032, an increase from 452,092 in 2022.
