China Launches First-Ever ADHD Treatment Vision During National Awareness Week

Nanjing, April 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, China's first "ADHD Care Week" was officially launched in Nanjing. Initiated by the Beijing Medical Award Foundation, co-hosted by dozens of domestic hospitals, medical professional societies, and international non-governmental organizations, and supported by Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., this series of public science education and charitable activities aims to further enhance societal awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (commonly known as childhood hyperactivity; abbreviated as ADHD), improve the current state of ADHD treatment in China, and promote mental health and well-being among children and adolescents.

At the launch ceremony of Care Week, the participating parties jointly released the “Vision for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in China” (hereinafter referred to as the “Vision”), with the aim of significantly improving the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in China by building consensus across medical, educational, and other multidisciplinary fields, thereby helping approximately 23 million affected children in the country overcome the burdens of the disease and enjoy opportunities for healthy development.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, predominantly affecting school-aged children, with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity being the most prevalent symptoms. Currently, the prevalence of ADHD in China is approximately 6.26%, which is higher than the global average.^[1]Approximately 23 million children and adolescents in China are affected by ADHD. However, due to limited public awareness of the disorder and a shortage of child psychiatrists, fewer than 10% of affected children seek medical attention, and less than one-third of those diagnosed receive standardized treatment.^[2]ADHD can lead to poor academic performance in children, affect their self-confidence and interpersonal relationships, and severely impact the mental health of children and adolescents.

Professor Ke Xiaoyan, Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Child Mental Health and affiliated with Nanjing Brain Hospital, stated, “We have joined forces with multiple partners to jointly release the Vision, aiming to lead a transformation in the clinical treatment paradigm for ADHD in China, improve the current state of diagnosis and treatment, enhance healthcare professionals’ adherence to standardized diagnostic and therapeutic practices and their comprehensive clinical capabilities, and create a better treatment experience for the 23 million children with ADHD in China.” She further explained that the Vision calls on clinicians to adopt first-line medications recommended by mainstream international treatment guidelines, along with other adjunctive therapies, to deliver improved efficacy, safety, and treatment outcomes for patients.

“Vision for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in China” advocates “enhancing public awareness of ADHD, helping patients receive timely scientific diagnosis and treatment, freeing them from the burden of the disease, improving their academic performance, and ensuring they have equal opportunities for healthy and comprehensive development as their peers.”

The ADHD Care Week, launched today, is jointly hosted by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Child Mental Health, the Asian ADHD Alliance, the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Group of the Chinese Medical Association’s Pediatric Branch, the Committee on Child Mental Health of the Chinese Mental Health Association, the Child Healthcare Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association’s Pediatric Branch, the Subcommittee on Child Cognition and Brain Dysfunction of the Chinese Neuroscience Society, China Youth Publishing Group, and the Beijing Medical Award Foundation. The event involves participation from 82 hospitals and medical institutions across China, as well as organizations such as the US-based Space for Art Foundation. Under the theme “I Am Not Disobedient,” a series of activities—including online live-streamed classes, offline science popularization lectures, and free clinical consultations—will be held simultaneously in hospitals, communities, and schools nationwide over the course of one week.

At the press conference, Dr. Yao Hui, President of Nanjing Brain Hospital; Professor Ke Xiaoyan; Dr. Hu Zheng, Director at Nanjing Children’s Hospital; and Ms. Yang Yijing, Principal of Hou Biaoying Primary School in Nanjing, discussed multi-party collaborative models for ADHD. They engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including a disease management model integrating family, school, and hospital care; exploring innovative approaches to science popularization and disease screening; and the training of frontline medical professionals. Principal Yang Yijing stated that she hoped to launch and promote disease education activities under the “medical-educational integration” model, helping teachers and parents jointly assume responsibility for children’s and adolescents’ mental health and psychiatric issues, including ADHD. She emphasized strengthening awareness of disease screening and improving overall understanding. “Creating a caring learning environment for children affected by ADHD is an indispensable part of educational work. We will incorporate relevant disease education into existing health initiatives and fully support professional physicians in entering schools to help teachers and parents correctly understand ADHD, ensuring that children have greater opportunities to realize their potential,” said Principal Yang.

The launch event also invited local elementary school student representatives from Nanjing to participate in a special segment—an interactive session with Ms. Nicole Stott, a former NASA astronaut and representative of the U.S.-based Space for Art Foundation. Ms. Stott showcased her space-themed artworks to the children and guided them in exploring the wonders of space exploration.

This year’s ADHD Care Week continues the collaboration among the Beijing Medical Reward Foundation, various professional societies and organizations, and enterprises in conducting public education, and will be sustained as an annual series of activities carried out across China.

[1] Wang T, et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Jan 19;17(1):32
[2] Zheng Yi, Liu Jing, eds. Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in China (2nd Edition). Chinese Medical Electronic Audio-Visual Publishing House. 2015