China's ADHD Digital Therapeutics Hold Strong Clinical Demand and Industrial Advantages, Offering Local Companies a Chance to Leapfrog Global Competitors: Interview with Professor Zheng Yi of Beijing Anding Hospital
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), commonly known as hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that onset in childhood and is primarily characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are inconsistent with developmental levels. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Children with ADHD are like cars with malfunctioning brakes and accelerators: the vehicle may occasionally speed or lose control, while at other times it slows down or even stalls. The brains of children with ADHD function similarly; they have impaired self-monitoring and self-regulation abilities, making them unable to adjust their behavior according to environmental demands. When the environment is novel and engaging, their brains become impulsive and absorbed—operating at high speed but with low accuracy. Conversely, when external stimuli are monotonous and dull, such as during tasks involving rote memorization, their brains enter a "stalled" state, leading to drowsiness...
In China, over 20 million children and adolescents are currently affected by ADHD; however, there are no more than 500 specialized child psychiatrists, with high-quality practitioners predominantly concentrated in large tertiary Grade A hospitals in first- and second-tier cities. Furthermore, the consultation rate for ADHD is less than 20%, and only approximately one-third of patients receive standardized treatment.
Overall, the current landscape of ADHD diagnosis and treatment is characterized by uneven distribution of medical resources, a severe imbalance between supply and demand, and significant limitations in existing therapeutic approaches, leaving substantial room for future exploration and development. Therefore,Can the emergence of digital therapeutics fill these gaps? What innovations and medical value have they actually brought? What are the future development trends of the industry? What are the insights and judgments of frontline medical experts?
Professor Zheng Yi, Chairman of the Asian ADHD Alliance, Chief Expert in Child Psychiatry at Beijing Anding Hospital, and a recipient of the State Council’s Special Allowance, who contributed to the ADHD guidelines, was specially invited to provide commentary and future perspectives on the development of digital therapeutics for ADHD in China.
Zheng Yi, Chief Expert and Chief Physician of the Child Psychiatry Team at Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University; Former Chairman of the Asian Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions
Professor Zheng Yi stated, “ADHD is the neurodevelopmental disorder with the highest prevalence among school-aged children, and its etiology is highly complex.”Professor Zheng Yi, Chief Expert of the Child Psychiatry Team at Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityIt has been reported that clinical practice has long relied on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Pharmacological therapies predominantly involve stimulant medications, which offer rapid onset of action but are associated with relatively significant side effects. Among non-pharmacological approaches, behavioral intervention training imposes stringent requirements on the therapeutic environment, qualified personnel, and standardization, resulting in limited feasibility for institutional implementation and low adoption rates. Meanwhile, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) lack sufficient evidence-based medical support, and controversy persists regarding whether electromagnetic stimulation may have long-term effects on the brain.
Given the clinical characteristics of ADHD, the efficacy and side effects of pharmacological treatments, and the limitations and risks of non-pharmacological interventions, various therapeutic approaches are being continuously developed worldwide. For instance, China employs Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies, while international research focuses on exercise therapy and dietary interventions, with digital therapeutics representing the most recent advancement.
Digital therapeutics, leveraging the principles of evidence-based medicine and artificial intelligence, offer advantages in ease of use, standardization, professionalism, and scientific rigor. This approach can overcome the objective limitations associated with pharmacological side effects, as well as the inconsistencies, lack of standardization, implementation challenges, and stringent environmental requirements often seen in behavioral training.
Furthermore, digital therapeutics are entirely non-invasive. They employ advanced intelligent algorithms and refined programming to provide precise guidance for patients, thereby improving their cognitive structures, attention, and executive functions. If the efficacy of digital therapeutics can be well substantiated both theoretically and in practice, they will represent a highly promising therapeutic approach and product category. The FDA has already approved digital therapeutic products for ADHD, and Professor Zheng Yi noted that the clinical community is closely monitoring advancements in this field.
Regarding the acceptance and widespread adoption of digital therapeutics, although they present a cognitive challenge for many individuals, Professor Zheng Yi expressed strong confidence at the physician level, particularly among younger doctors. At numerous academic conferences, many young physicians have responded very positively to digital therapeutics. Given the highly advanced state of current network technology, internet platforms should be leveraged effectively to disseminate information to physicians at all levels.
Professor Zheng Yi also mentioned that Fangcun Doctor’s platform has signed contracts with more than 500 Grade A tertiary hospitals across China and connected with 1,500 specialized physicians. As a comprehensive service platform long dedicated to the ADHD field—covering medications, disease management, and digital therapeutics—and supplemented by traditional education, training, and academic exchange conferences, it is believed that the promotion and adoption of new technologies and therapies such as digital therapeutics will outpace that of conventional pharmaceuticals.
Unlike stimulant medications, which are constrained by hospital tiers and physician expertise, digital therapeutics can be accessed wherever there is internet connectivity. In the future, large specialized hospitals can focus on treating complex cases of ADHD, such as refractory cases and those with comorbidities, while mild or early-stage conditions may be effectively managed through digital therapeutics. This represents a significant innovation in diagnostic and treatment models. Currently, the consultation rate for ADHD is less than 20%. The broader adoption of digital therapeutics in the future can raise public awareness of the disorder and of children’s and adolescents’ mental health, encouraging individuals to face the condition correctly and seek treatment, thereby substantially increasing both the consultation and treatment rates for ADHD.
Professor Zheng Yi noted that Akili, a U.S. digital therapeutics company, has EndeavorRx, a treatment for ADHD, whose name connotes “endeavor” and “pioneering.” In China, Anding Hospital and Fangcun Doctor pioneered the first formal collaboration on double-blind, randomized controlled trials of digital therapeutics. Thus, Fangcun Doctor’s digital therapeutics also embody the spirit of pioneering and endeavor, making them highly representative.
According to Professor Zheng Yi, the clinical trial design for Fangcun Doctor’s digital therapeutics is highly rigorous. Important feedback was received during the initial patient enrollment phase, revealing very high levels of cooperation and success rates among children. Parents have recognized this as a non-invasive, safe, and effective approach, further demonstrating the significant potential of digital therapeutics. Following approval by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Fangcun Doctor will conduct large-scale real-world studies. This will enable rapid collaboration with physicians at all levels, with the aim of allowing children in China to benefit from these interventions more quickly and at an earlier stage.
Professor Zheng Yi also pointed out that China’s artificial intelligence and digital technologies are highly advanced, and the Chinese population exhibits greater neural sensitivity to digital and procedural stimuli. Furthermore, the vast patient base facilitates the iteration and optimization of digital therapeutics. Therefore, we should have such national confidence, believing that digital therapeutic products developed in China will surpass those in Western countries and achieve a world-leading level.