How ADHD Management Technology Supports those with ADHD

This week celebrated World Mental Health Day, a day for education and awareness around mental wellbeing. 

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong condition. Those born with it may experience difficulty concentrating, fidgeting, forgetfulness and may sometimes make impulsive decisions. There’s evidence that those with ADHD are also likely to experience a mental health problem, such as anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, substance abuse and sleep problems. 

ADHD diagnosis is on the rise, according to Dom Longford, CEO of Cog ADHD. Here he tells us how ADHD management technology can play a major part in providing necessary support to those with the condition and why ADHD brains are “some of the most economically valuable”.

ADHD prescription rates soar despite backlogs

The NHS recently released statistics detailing how there has been an increase of 27.7% in adults prescribed with medicine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the space of a year. This continues a trend of additional reports from the NHS Business Services Authority, reporting a steady rise dating back to their first report in 2015/2016.

"But despite prescriptions having the steepest rise since 2020/21, we've also seen mass manufacturing issues behind the ongoing ADHD drug shortages reported by the Department of Health and Social Care,” explains Dom. “This has left those diagnosed with ADHD in the lurch, as suddenly their access to medicine is taken away. Medicine shortages in the UK are nothing new - and not just exclusive to ADHD. Epilepsy and diabetes medicine are just two more of many medications that often see constant distribution shortages.”

The NHS has admitted it would take up to nine years to address the backlog of waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis. 

“The UK's struggle with access to steady supply lines may, in part, be due to leaving the EU, which has weakened the ability to effectively and quickly respond to impending shortages notified by drug companies,” he says. “The increase in demand, combined with changes to companies producing and supplying medication, has resulted in widespread difficulty meeting supply needs.”

Whilst the issue of drug shortages becoming a new normal needs addressing in the long term, it is also clear that interim support for ADHD patients must be provided to safeguard them in this demanding period. 

“Greater support is needed to counteract the current crisis and ADHD coping strategies may just become a critical part of providing that first step of aid for those struggling with ADHD in general,” Dom continues. 

How management platforms can give patients the necessary routine and help them regain control

Supporting those diagnosed with ADHD but unable to access medication for treatment is a crucial responsibility for both healthcare services and mental health therapists. ADHD management programmes and strategies have been proven to help individuals by bringing a sense of structure and routine to potentially scattered minds and help by giving access to support currently missing.

“Whilst these strategies are not a complete replacement for medication, it is a great first step for those lacking medical support and a great additional support method for those with regular prescriptions,” he says. “A tailored ADHD management programme can provide the support needed on a case-by-case basis, ideally supplemented with accessible therapy to help keep patients on track.”

Strategies are taught in ADHD CBT programmes and are already approved by private healthcare systems all over the world, such as in the Netherlands and The United States. CBT programmes are proven methods for supporting ADHD symptoms, but lack proliferation across the global healthcare system. Dom feels that it is time to expand the teaching of these strategies, as they can be practised pre or post-diagnosis and while taking or waiting for assistive medication.

“It’s essential for people to realise that medication is not the only, be-all-end-all solution,” he says. “A firm and supportive source of structure can work wonders in helping those struggling to manage ADHD, both in mild and severe cases. Moreover, understanding that the condition is treatable with the right kind of informed support is key. Still, there is currently a lack of access to the information needed to make these informed decisions about managing ADHD in the UK.”

Yet ADHD can be difficult to understand, both by the diagnosed and undiagnosed.

“Even when it’s available, ADHD help is often not ADHD-friendly, so providing accessible frameworks for ADHD management backed by comprehensive research can lower the number of obstacles ADHD patients may feel concerning currently maintaining their mental health. Many feel let down by the lack of services with traditional healthcare already, regardless of the current strain on prescription resources.”

However, with technology now able to cost-effectively provide access to management and support tools, the options exist to better manage neurodiversity - so long as people know where to look for them.

Dom believes that there is a business incentive to address ADHD symptoms and burnout. 

“Companies are seeing burnout as a big problem, with more recognising ADHD as a significant contributor. However, ADHD is widely accepted in the corporate world due to the genius work they have seen with neurodiverse employees. ADHD brains are some of the most economically valuable, found in a lot of data scientists, engineers, creatives, entrepreneurs and more. However, unmanaged ADHD can quickly spill over into trouble, there’s a high correlation between talented brains, hyperfocus and burnout.”

Companies are spending more than US$300bn a year on burnout support. Long-term sickness is a substantial cost to companies and the lives of their employees, but it could easily be prevented. 

“We offer companies education to raise awareness of ADHD, giving people the tools to prevent burnout and maintain high productivity, because ADHD support is important for productivity as well as for health.”

******

Make sure you check out the latest industry news and insights at Healthcare Digital and also sign up to our global conference series - Tech & AI LIVE 2024

******