Exclusive Interview with Professor Liu Huaqing of Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School: Digital Therapeutics Can Fill the ADHD Treatment Gap, but Usage Standards Are Urgently Needed
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), commonly known as hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that onset in childhood and is primarily characterized by attention deficits, 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: at times they speed or lose control, while at other times they slow down or even stall. The brains of children with ADHD function similarly; their self-monitoring and self-regulation capabilities are impaired, preventing them from adjusting 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 knowledge retention, their brains enter a stalled state, leading to drowsiness...
According to statistics, the prevalence of ADHD among children in China is 6.26% (approximately 23 million individuals), representing a substantial patient population and generating significant demand for relevant medical resources.
However, China currently faces a severe shortage of pediatric physicians, and the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of relevant healthcare professionals for ADHD need improvement. There are no more than 500 child psychiatrists in the country, with high-quality specialists predominantly concentrated in large Grade A tertiary hospitals in first- and second-tier cities. Furthermore, the consultation rate for ADHD is less than 20%, and only about 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 options, 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?
In response, VCBeat interviewed authoritative experts from Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical Center to gain insights into their genuine perspectives and frontline experiences with digital therapeutics, particularly those rooted in pediatric neuroscience for conditions such as ADHD.
Liu Huaqing, Director of the Department of Clinical Psychology at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital (Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School), and Vice Chairman of the Psychoanalysis Professional Committee of the Psychiatric Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association
Liu Yanru, Attending Physician, Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital (Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical College)
According toProfessor Liu Huaqing, Director of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital (Huilongguan Clinical Medical College of Peking University)Introduction: The prevalence of ADHD among children in China is high, affecting over 20 million children and their families. Although many parents now bring their children for medical consultation upon the recommendation of school teachers, numerous obstacles hinder effective treatment. Parents are particularly concerned about the side effects and dependency associated with pharmacological interventions, while the implementation of non-pharmacological therapies also poses significant challenges.
First, most public hospitals do not offer behavioral training therapy, requiring parents to seek out and evaluate options in the private sector.Dr. Liu Yanru, Attending Physician, Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital (Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical College)Parents told VCBeat that they often need to compare seven or eight, or even more than ten, institutions before making a decision, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, the effectiveness of offline behavioral training is relatively poor; in particular, the requirement for regular weekly sessions raises parental concerns about further disrupting their children’s academic studies. Although teachers at school are willing to accommodate affected students’ needs, they often struggle to balance the emotional well-being of these patients with that of their classmates.
Therefore, many parents—particularly those of children in the lower grades of elementary school—have a high level of acceptance toward digital therapeutics. Furthermore, digital therapeutics are very easy to use, allowing children to gradually improve their attention span while playing games. However, we must also consider parental concerns regarding game addiction and vision protection; therefore, usage time for digital therapeutics should be strictly limited.
For clinicians, there is a strong desire for new treatment options to help children with ADHD and their families, butThe Journey from Awareness to Acceptance of Digital Therapeutics Is a Gradual ProcessInitially, stakeholders adopted a wait-and-see approach, requiring an evaluation of the efficacy and side effects of digital therapeutics, which are typically substantiated by extensive scientific evidence. Consequently, clinicians hope to be informed in advance about which literature or studies can validate the efficacy of relevant products; only then may they gradually build confidence in digital therapeutics and become willing to try these innovative solutions.
Based on current usage patterns, digital therapeutics are relatively convenient to operate. However, Professor Liu Huaqing’s team is also concerned that issues with adherence to usage guidelines may arise after children return home from clinical visits, potentially fostering a sense of distrust among parents toward this “ready-to-use” treatment model.It is recommended to standardize the development of diagnostic and treatment systems for digital therapeutics, for exampleUsing the device under the guidance of in-hospital medical staff for a period before taking it home for training can help patients and their families adhere to long-term, standardized treatment.
Recently, Fangcun Doctor has entered into in-depth collaborations with top-tier medical institutions in China, including Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing Anding Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking University Sixth Hospital, and West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Fangcun Doctor’s digital therapeutic product for adjunctive ADHD treatment (FocusPro1) has also entered the phase of multi-center clinical trials across China and is expected to obtain Class II medical device certification from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) within this year.
According to Dr. Liu Yanru, the DSM-IV categorizes ADHD into three subtypes: predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type, and combined type. Clinically, the predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type is less common. Currently, digital therapeutics demonstrate more evident efficacy in improving attention, making them suitable for a broader range of patients with the predominantly inattentive and combined types.
In the future, Professor Liu Huaqing’s team hopes that digital therapeutics will have an increasingly broad range of applications., such as emotional regulation and time management. There is also a growing expectation for more research and data to further substantiate the safety and efficacy of digital therapeutics, so that any potential side effects that may emerge in the future can be proactively addressed. On this basis, there is hope that digital therapeutics will be incorporated into medical insurance coverage more rapidly, thereby enhancing public awareness and acceptance, and enabling more children to benefit at an earlier stage.
In addition to digital therapeutics, Professor Liu Huaqing’s team also hopes to see the development of more innovative medications with fewer side effects, while calling for more accredited institutions to offer standardized sensory integration and behavioral training. Through these concerted efforts, we aim to provide children with ADHD a wider range of high-quality treatment options.