Journal Article Consensus Statement Epublish 1 citation
PubMed: 42462051 DOI: 10.2196/85638
Consensus Statement on Digital Health and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder by the European Network for ADHD (EUNETHYDIS): Modified Delphi Study.
J Med Internet Res 28:e85638
Authors: Anna Price, Emi Furukawa, Alessio Bellato, Pascal-M Aggensteiner, Matthew Bellringer, Claire Cattel, Samuele Cortese, David Daley, Manfred Döpfner, Federica Donno, Madeleine J Groom, Anna Kaiser, Christina Kini-Seery, Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne, Jonna Kuntsi, Stuart Kyle, Elizabeth B Liddle, Giorgia Michelini, Emilie S Nordby, Nicholas Peres, Tashinga Ruzive, Anita Salimi, Douglas Sjöwall, Edmund J S Sonuga-Barke, James Wenger, Tamsin Newlove-Delgado
Affiliations
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Room 2.05, South Cloisters, University of Exeter St Luke's Campus Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, United Kingdom, 44 01392 726026.
- Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan.
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Mannheim, Germany.
- Clinical Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
- BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Swindon, United Kingdom.
- Oxford Health NHS, Oxford, United Kingdom.
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Childhood and Adolescence, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.
- Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm, Germany.
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.
- Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
- Llansamlet Surgery, Swansea, United Kingdom.
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Vestland, Norway.
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Torquay, England, United Kingdom.
- University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Digital technologies are becoming an important part of health care, including for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Digital health innovations present valuable opportunities to provide flexible and tailored support for their diverse needs, along with significant challenges. Attentional, organizational, and motivational characteristics associated with ADHD may affect how individuals engage with digital tools. Potential risks include additional access barriers, the exclusion of underserved groups, and diminished quality of care. To help reduce these risks, the development, evaluation, and implementation of digital tools must be person-centered and guided by a comprehensive understanding of the diverse needs of all stakeholders.
OBJECTIVE
To advance research in this area, a multidisciplinary panel of ADHD specialists, technology experts, and individuals with lived experience of ADHD was formed. The panel worked together to agree on key priorities and considerations for developing, evaluating, and implementing digital technologies for ADHD. The recommendations are designed to be shared with the wider research community and to guide innovations in ADHD digital health to improve care.
METHODS
A modified Delphi approach was used to develop consensus. Key statements were drafted, building on discussions held during the European Network for ADHD (EUNETHYDIS) Special Interest Group meeting in 2024. An expert panel that included additional key stakeholders was convened. Draft statements were shared with panel members via a 2-round Delphi survey and discussion meetings, with final statements coproduced by the panel. Insights from multiple perspectives were incorporated, and consensus agreement was sought. Refined statements were shared with EUNETHYDIS members for ratification. Panel members were invited to contribute as coauthors.
RESULTS
An expert panel of 28 members (21 EUNETHYDIS Special Interest Group members, 7 invited experts) coproduced 30 consensus statements on ADHD and digital health. Agreement ranged from 78.6% (22/28) to 100% (28/28) for the first round (19 statements) and from 92.6% (25/27) to 100% (27/27) for the second round (30 statements). Final statements covered 4 topic areas: Opportunities and Aspirations, Development and Evaluation, Implementation, and Risks and Unintended Consequences. These were ratified in September 2025 by the EUNETHYDIS.
CONCLUSIONS
This consensus process provides the first comprehensive set of key considerations for digital health care for people with ADHD and demonstrates the feasibility of achieving expert agreement on complex, rapidly evolving topics, such as digital health. Future work should focus on translating these considerations into more specific and practical implementation frameworks, identifying priorities, and connecting them to real-life stories and empirical evidence.
MeSH
Work, Research, Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity, Digital Health