HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ADHD, a highly treatable neurological disorder, affects millions of people in the United States. National prevalence rates rose consistently between 1997-2016, increasing from 6.1% to 10.2% according to a population survey. Despite the common perception that ADHD is overdiagnosed, the opposite is, in fact, true. Increasing rates of ADHD are not due to over-care but rather increased awareness of the condition.
During a recent interview with WebMD, FDA commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., made claims that telehealth providers are largely responsible for driving a “tremendous” increase in ADHD diagnoses and stimulant prescriptions over the past few years. He went on to share that he believes not all prescriptions are warranted.
In response to the comments from Dr. Califf and the continued dialogue faulting telehealth for the issues in ADHD, executives from Qbtech, the global leader in objective ADHD testing, shared their perspectives on improving the quality of care for ADHD.
“The continued placement of blame on telehealth for the challenges across ADHD is a misconception that distracts from us facing the real problem head-on,” says McCall Letterle, Head of Commercial Operations, North America, Qbtech. “Our internal data shows there is little difference in symptoms across settings and models of care. What telehealth has done is significantly increase access to care for millions of people in the U.S. that otherwise wouldn’t have sought the help they needed.”
Dr. Califf’s call for better standards of care for ADHD, however, is critical. The need for standardization of care is long overdue in the U.S. and must include evidence-based, objective measures. Incorporating technology-driven tools into the ADHD diagnosis and management processes can alleviate the significant backlog many providers are experiencing and ensure that the right patients are receiving the best care.
“Psychiatry lends itself uniquely to telehealth because diagnoses and evaluations are not based on a physical exam. This was reinforced during COVID, when providers were forced to continue patient treatment virtually, and providers and patients realized the quality of care is essentially the same. Offering telehealth for ADHD treatment removes the many barriers to care that patients face,” shared Dr. Griffith Jones DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, Fox Fern ADHD Clinic. “ADHD is the most treatable mental health condition because of stimulants. They are the gold standard for treatment, with 85% of ADHD patients achieving remission of their symptoms and over 50% improvement.”
Qbtech is dedicated to advocating for improved ADHD care, breaking down stigmas, and ensuring that evidence-based practices guide policy decisions. For more information on the company’s effort to improve the standardization of care and to join industry experts showing your support, add your signature to the ADHD Expert Consortium’s Consensus Statement.
About Qbtech
Founded in 2002, Qbtech is a privately-owned Swedish company that has developed leading solutions and products for improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients living with ADHD. Qbtech has operations in 13 countries and has offices in Stockholm, Houston, and London. Qbtech is an award-winning company recognized for its innovation, most recently winning the 2022 HSJ Partnership Award for the ‘Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS’.
