Study summary
Around 6% of young people have a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Late adolescence can be a difficult time for young people with ADHD, with major life transitions, new demands and higher expectations. At this time, young people are also transitioning from child and adolescent services (where they received treatment) to adult ADHD services. UK data show that most young people with ADHD do not successfully transfer to adult services. Therefore, many young people with ADHD do not receive the right help (“interventions”) when they may need them most.
It has been difficult to know how to design these interventions for two reasons. First, because young people are not attending clinical services, and second, because we don’t know what works for them in the real world.
The current study is asking these questions using remote (not in-person) measurement technology (“RMT”). This study, called "ART-transition", will use an ADHD Remote Technology (“ART”) system. ART involves smartphone apps that include active parts (such as questionnaires) and passive parts (happens in the background, measuring things like screen time). ART also includes using a sports watch (Fitbit) to track sleep and step counts.
In the study, we will ask three questions on the transition to adulthood for individuals with ADHD:
1. What changes take place?
2. What predicts them?
3. How can we prevent negative outcomes and support healthy lifestyles?
We will recruit 250 young people aged 16-17 with ADHD who will take part for two years. We will then design, with young people with ADHD, a new smartphone app for ADHD transition. Our approach focuses on giving young people with ADHD greater control over how they manage their ADHD. The new app will involve young people working with their clinician, with a focus on real-world changes and preventing negative outcomes.