Innovation and Clinical Application of Digital Therapeutics for ADHD: Insights from Five Leading Experts

Currently, over 20 million children and adolescents in China are affected by ADHD. However, there are fewer than 500 specialized child psychiatrists nationwide, with high-quality professionals predominantly concentrated in large tertiary hospitals in first- and second-tier cities. Furthermore, the consultation rate for ADHD remains below 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? What are the future development trends of the industry? What are the perceptions and judgments of frontline medical experts?

In response to this, VCBeat interviewed representatives fromBeijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University; Nanjing Brain Hospital; Peking University Sixth Hospital; West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Beijing Huilongguan HospitalAuthoritative experts from five major hospitals, including Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, were interviewed to gain insights into their genuine perspectives on digital therapeutics—particularly pediatric neuroscience-based digital therapies for ADHD—their latest frontline experiences, and their outlook on future opportunities.

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

ADHD is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder among school-aged children, with a highly complex etiology.Professor Zheng Yi, Chief Expert of the Child Psychiatry Team at Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityIt was introduced that pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments have been consistently employed in clinical practice for many years.

Pharmacological therapies predominantly utilize stimulant medications, which offer rapid onset of action but are associated with relatively pronounced side effects. Among non-pharmacological approaches, behavioral intervention training imposes stringent requirements on the therapeutic environment, instructor qualifications, and standardization, thereby limiting the feasibility of institutional implementation and resulting in low adoption rates. Furthermore, transcranial magnetic stimulation and direct current stimulation lack sufficient evidence-based medical support, and controversy persists regarding the potential long-term effects of electromagnetic stimulation on the brain.

Given the clinical characteristics of ADHD, the efficacy and side effects of pharmacological treatments, as well as the limitations and risks associated with non-pharmacological interventions, various therapeutic approaches are being continuously developed worldwide. For instance, China employs Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies, while other countries are investigating exercise therapy and dietary interventions. The most recent advancement is digital therapeutics.

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 objective limitations associated with pharmacological side effects and the inconsistencies, lack of standardization, implementation challenges, and stringent environmental requirements inherent in behavioral training.

Additionally,Digital Therapeutics Are Completely Non-Invasive, through high-tech intelligent computing and refined programming, correctly guide patients to improve their brain cognitive structure, attention, and executive function. If digital therapeutics can be well-proven effective both theoretically and practically, they will be a very promising treatment method and product. Currently, the FDA has already approved ADHD digital therapy products, and Professor Zheng Yi stated that there is also significant clinical interest in the progress of digital therapeutics.

Regarding the acceptance and popularization of digital therapeutics, although they present a cognitive challenge for many people, Professor Zheng Yi expressed great confidence at the physician level, particularly among younger doctors. At many academic exchange conferences,Many young physicians have responded very positively to digital therapeutics.Given the advanced state of internet technology, we should also leverage online platforms 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 field of ADHD, covering everything from medication and management to digital therapeutics, and complemented 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.

Meanwhile, unlike stimulant medications, digital therapeutics are not constrained by hospital tiers or physicians’ expertise; they can be accessed wherever internet connectivity is available.In the future, large specialized hospitals can focus on treating complex conditions such as refractory ADHD and comorbidities, while mild or early-stage cases may be managed effectively with digital therapeutics. This represents a significant innovation in diagnosis and treatment models. Currently, the healthcare utilization rate for ADHD is less than 20%.The future widespread adoption of digital therapeutics can also raise public awareness of diseases and of mental health among children and adolescents., enabling them to face the condition correctly and undergo treatment, thereby significantly improving the consultation and treatment rates for ADHD.

Professor Zheng Yi noted that Akili, a U.S.-based digital therapeutics company, has developed EndeavorRx for the treatment of ADHD, with its name connoting “endeavor” and “pioneering.” In China, Anding Hospital and Fangcun Doctor were the first to collaborate on formal double-blind randomized controlled trials of digital therapeutics. Therefore, Fangcun Doctor’s digital therapeutics also carry the significance 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, the Chinese population exhibits greater neural sensitivity to digital and programmed stimuli, and the vast patient base facilitates the iteration and optimization of digital therapeutics. Therefore, we should have such national confidence and believe that digital therapeutic products developed in China will surpass those in Western countries and achieve a world-leading level.

Ke Xiaoyan, Director of the Child Mental Health Research Center and Chief Physician at Nanjing Brain Hospital, and Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Child Mental Health

Ke Xiaoyan, Director of the Child Mental Health Research Center at Nanjing Brain HospitalIt was introduced that, regarding ADHD, parents generally possess a foundational understanding when seeking medical care. However, they often struggle to distinguish whether their child's hyperactivity should be classified as a clinical disorder, a behavioral disorder, or an educational issue. Without relevant experience, it is difficult for them to truly comprehend the disease and make accurate judgments. Therefore, patient education relying solely on knowledge dissemination is insufficient; it also requires more patient families to share their personal experiences.

In terms of treatment, even if parents accept the diagnosis, they may not necessarily agree to the proposed treatment or complete treatment regimen, particularly pharmacological therapy. Many parents exhibit poor acceptance, and even among those who do accept it, long-term medication adherence is often challenging. Therefore, patient education must be implemented at all stages. Parents’ attitudes may fluctuate repeatedly, making this a process that requires sustained, gradual influence over time.

In response to this, and particularly following the onset of the pandemic in late 2019, the Child Mental Health Research Center at Nanjing Brain Hospital, with platform support from Dr. Fang Cun, launched a series of online parent education classes. These initiatives aimed to address the limitations of brief outpatient visits, which often preclude comprehensive health education. The series comprises three major modules focusing on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tic Disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has achieved high acceptance and engagement rates among parents, providing tangible assistance to many families feeling lost and helpless.

Regarding the recently popular digital therapeutics, Professor Ke Xiaoyan stated that the current attention they receive is due to their remote nature, which enhances healthcare accessibility, as well as studies demonstrating their efficacy and low side effects. However, Professor Ke believes that whether conclusions drawn from small-sample studies can be generalized to ADHD patient populations with different phenotypes and subtypes still requires validation through rigorous clinical trials in the Chinese population. Only with support from evidence-based medical data can the effectiveness of digital therapeutics be ensured.

Professor Ke Xiaoyan has repeatedly emphasized that the product development and clinical validation of digital therapeutics must be conducted with greater rigor. Only in this way can these products possess genuine viability.If the initial approach lacks rigor and the product’s efficacy is subject to significant doubt, stakeholders may dismiss the entire offering due to these concerns, resulting in losses that outweigh any gains. It is preferable to proceed more deliberately and prudently, clearly specifying the age groups and types of neuropsychological impairment for which the product is effective.

Professor Ke Xiaoyan pointed out that it is necessary to replicate and validate foreign digital therapeutics research, conduct localized development and design, and carry out clinical studies targeting different age groups. The more narrowly the target population is defined, the more rigorous the study, the stronger its reproducibility, and the greater the likelihood of gaining broad acceptance. Special attention should be paid to preschool children, for whom pharmacological treatment is not generally recommended as the first-line option in clinical practice; instead, parent education and behavioral management are prioritized. Furthermore, children at this stage exhibit greater neural network plasticity and functional adaptability, making them well-suited for intervention with digital therapeutics.

but on the condition thatNot only should the short-term efficacy of digital therapeutics be verified, but their long-term efficacy must also be observed.A therapy should not merely be harmless or achieve improved performance on training and test sets; rather, it must demonstrate genuine efficacy and deliver functional improvements, which constitute the true clinical treatment goals. Meanwhile, Professor Ke Xiaoyan also cautioned that parents should avoid developing preferences for certain therapies based solely on concerns about medication, without considering actual clinical circumstances, as this may compromise treatment outcomes. It is also essential to prevent products with unverified efficacy from being prematurely introduced into clinical practice or commercialized, thereby avoiding adverse consequences.

Professor Ke Xiaoyan also emphasized that primary healthcare in China is a critical component that cannot be overlooked. It requires scalable solutions that reduce reliance on specialized personnel. She expressed hope that innovative products based on computer and internet technologies, such as digital therapeutics, can genuinely enhance the accessibility of high-quality medical services, alleviate clinical dependence on specialists, and promote greater equity in healthcare delivery. This should be the direction of our collective efforts.

Yang Li, Researcher at Peking University Sixth Hospital, Deputy Director of the Child Psychology Center at Peking University Sixth Hospital, and Vice Chair of the World Federation of ADHD

Researcher Yang Li, Peking University Sixth HospitalVCBeat was informed that digital therapeutics have undergone more than a decade of development. In recent years, with advances in technologies such as AI and VR, ADHD digital therapeutic products based on these emerging technologies have continued to emerge. These products offer advantages including ease of use, intelligence, engaging user experiences, and minimal side effects, thereby garnering widespread attention.

Digital Therapeutics for ADHD Are Particularly Suitable for Specific Populations. The first group comprises individuals with suboptimal responses to pharmacotherapy. At least one-third of patients with ADHD experience inadequate efficacy or intolerance to medication, resulting in residual symptoms or adverse drug reactions, thereby necessitating combination with non-pharmacological treatments. The second group includes those with low acceptance of pharmacotherapy. Some parents of children with ADHD have concerns regarding medication; in such cases, non-pharmacological interventions can provide timely initial support for the child.

Professor Yang Li stated that currently, only a very small number of ADHD digital therapeutic products abroad have received regulatory approval and been implemented in clinical practice. These approved products have all undergone rigorous clinical efficacy studies and validation, and the market entry pathway for domestic products must follow the same standard. For instance, Fangcun Doctor has subjected its entire development process—from determining the direction of its ADHD digital therapeutic product and designing the training protocol to finalizing the product—to strict and meticulous scrutiny and validation.

The evaluation metrics for clinical trials of digital therapeutics are actually quite similar to those for drug clinical trials. They require rigorous, randomized, double-blind, controlled studies to observe efficacy, side effects, adherence, and other factors. For therapies targeting mental and psychological disorders, it is also necessary to obtain input from various informants to assess improvements in children’s core symptoms and make a comprehensive judgment.

In this regard, Fangcun Doctor is conducting rigorous clinical trials. Clinical observations from patient use indicate high acceptance of the digital therapeutic and positive feedback on its efficacy. Professor Yang Li expressed strong interest in seeing the final clinical evaluation results, hoping that it will provide a truly beneficial treatment supplement for patients who are unable to undergo pharmacological therapy or behavioral training.

Regarding the selection of digital therapeutics products by hospitals and physicians, Professor Yang Li also provided several reference dimensions.First, efficacy.Only treatment tools that have been clinically validated as effective possess clinical value.Second, interest.Children can only adhere to treatment and achieve therapeutic effects if they are interested in the product.Third, accessibility.Cognitive behavioral training requires repeated, even high-frequency sessions. If the therapeutic environment is confined to hospital settings, it may limit parents’ and children’s use of the product; therefore, expanding the scenarios in which the product can be used is crucial.Fourth, cost-effectiveness.If the cost of digital therapeutics is prohibitively high, making them unaffordable for families, it will significantly deter parents from choosing these products.5. Treatment feedback from parents and children.Physicians will certainly review how parents and children use the product; only when they are willing to adhere to the treatment and derive genuine benefit can physicians’ recognition of the product be sustained.

Furthermore, Professor Yang Li expressed her eagerness to see the integration of digital therapeutics with in-person behavioral training. In principle, digital therapeutics can serve as a complementary approach to such training.Digital therapeutics is a cognitive enhancement-based training., implement targeted improvements for areas where the child shows deficits, such as attention, memory, and self-control.Offline behavioral intervention is a compensatory training approach., due to the intensity and frequency of training, the improvement in cognitive function is limited, but it can teach children skills for daily life, such as packing their school bags. If these two approaches are combined, on one hand enhancing the child's cognitive function and on the other providing them with various skills needed for daily living, theoretically, this could lead to better rehabilitation outcomes.

Regarding the direction for improving digital therapeutics, Professor Yang Li believes that current ADHD digital therapeutic products have largely succeeded in digitizing and programming traditional pen-and-paper training, making the training more efficient and precise—a significant advancement. However, these interventions typically rely on children receiving visual information through video viewing, processing this input in the brain, and providing feedback, with continuous repetition and reinforcement of this process to improve neural function, thus remaining limited to sensory input. With the rapid development of neuroscience, there is an expectation for the development of more innovative products based on brain-computer interaction technology, enabling deeper modulation of brain function to achieve better therapeutic outcomes.

Luo Rong, Director of the Department of Pediatric Neurology at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Academic and Technical Leader of Sichuan Province; and Leading Talent of the National Health Commission

Luo Rong, Director of the Department of Pediatric Neurology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAccording to VCBeat, pharmacological treatment for ADHD is, in principle, indicated for children aged 6 years and older. Clinical practice does not recommend medication as a standalone intervention; instead, treatment modalities—including pharmacotherapy, psychological and behavioral interventions, and individualized educational programs—should be rationally selected and comprehensively integrated based on the patient’s clinical condition and specific needs.

In recent years, as awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has improved, parental acceptance of pharmacological treatment has increased. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of parents remain reluctant to medicate their children. In contrast, while parents are far more receptive to non-pharmacological interventions, real-world outcomes have often been suboptimal. This is because behavioral intervention cannot simply involve sending children to rehabilitation centers for training; it requires sustained, in-depth parental involvement, a process that poses considerable challenges for families. Consequently, digital therapeutics, which leverage big data, artificial intelligence, and gamification to deliver online behavioral therapy, represent a breakthrough in overcoming temporal and spatial barriers to treatment.

From the perspective of pediatric rehabilitation, integrating play with therapy is, in fact, a fundamental principle.The underlying reason is that children often lack the initiative to engage in training; they require an engaging, gamified therapeutic environment that enables them to repeatedly learn and practice through play, thereby acquiring skills or improving functional abilities. Digital therapeutics integrate rehabilitation content with gaming, using video games as a medium and guided by rehabilitation goals. This approach makes monotonous rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable, better stimulates children’s autonomy, ensures adherence to the training regimen, and helps achieve therapeutic objectives.

However, Professor Luo Rong stated that two additional aspects must be considered to achieve the widespread adoption of digital therapeutics.First, physician acceptance.In most cases, an innovative therapy can only be accepted by patients after it has been endorsed by physicians. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the safety and efficacy of the product, efforts are also needed to address the fact that many physicians currently have limited understanding of digital therapeutics.Second, parental acceptance.Domestic parents’ attitudes toward video games also differ from those in Western countries. Therefore, it is essential to rigorously design training duration and methods during product development to reflect scientific principles. If these parameters are properly configured to mitigate the risk of addiction, gamified digital therapeutics represent a highly promising innovative treatment approach.

Overall, as an emerging innovative therapy, digital therapeutics serves as a new “therapeutic weapon” for physicians and helps broaden their clinical and research perspectives. Previously, the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in clinical practice were based on relatively subjective assessment systems, with insufficient objectivity in data.By collecting big data on patient treatment and training, digital therapeutics can enable more precise clinical assessment of therapeutic efficacy.Professor Luo Rong further noted that the prevalence of ADHD is on the rise alongside improvements in living standards, reaching as high as 10% in developed countries. If not properly managed, it can also lead to various comorbidities. Therefore, there is great anticipation for the results of clinical validations and real-world studies based on digital therapeutics, which represents a highly promising avenue for exploration.

Liu Huaqing, Director of the Department of Clinical Psychology at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital (Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical College), and Vice Chairperson of the Psychoanalysis Professional Committee under 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 (Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical College)Introduction: The prevalence of ADHD among children in China is high, affecting more than 20 million children and their families. Although many parents now bring their children for clinical consultation upon the recommendation of school teachers, numerous barriers 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 practical 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)Tell VCBeat that many parents 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, especially since it requires regular weekly sessions; parents worry that this will further impact their children's studies. At school, although teachers are willing to accommodate the child's condition as much as possible, they often find it difficult to balance the emotions of the affected child with those of other students.

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 eye health protection; therefore, usage time for digital therapeutics should be appropriately limited.

For clinicians, there is a strong desire for new treatment options to help children and families affected by ADHD. However, the journey from awareness to acceptance of digital therapeutics is gradual. Initially, clinicians adopt a wait-and-see approach, carefully evaluating the efficacy and side effects of digital therapeutics, which are typically substantiated by extensive scientific evidence. Therefore, clinicians hope to be informed in advance about which literature or studies demonstrate the efficacy of relevant products. This transparency can help gradually build their confidence in digital therapeutics, making them more willing to try these innovative solutions.

Based on current usage, digital therapeutics are relatively convenient to operate. However, Professor Liu Huaqing’s team is concerned that issues with adherence to usage guidelines may arise after children return home following clinical visits, potentially leading parents to develop a lack of trust in this “ready-to-use” treatment model. It is recommended that the diagnostic and therapeutic framework for digital therapeutics be standardized. For instance, having patients use the intervention continuously under the guidance of in-hospital medical staff before transitioning to home-based training can help patients and their families maintain long-term, standardized treatment.

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 accounts for a smaller proportion of cases. Currently, digital therapeutics have demonstrated more definitive efficacy in improving attention, making them suitable for treating a broader range of patients with the predominantly inattentive and combined types.

Looking ahead, 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 hope for more research and data to further substantiate the safety and efficacy of digital therapeutics (DTx), so that any potential side effects that may emerge in the future can be proactively addressed. On this basis, there is an expectation that DTx 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 provide standardized sensory integration and behavioral training. Through these concerted multi-sector efforts, we aim to offer children with ADHD a wider range of high-quality treatment options.