Experts come together to discuss ADHD research and treatments
Leading experts explored what Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, how it affects children and young people and what research questions are currently under investigation.
The “ADHD: New Discoveries, Better Support” webinar, held on Tuesday 4 November, brought together clinicians, researchers and experts by lived experience to reflect on the clinical academic research taking place on ADHD. The King’s Maudsley Partnership is home to the world’s largest group of researchers and clinicians dedicated to understanding and improving outcomes for children with ADHD.
Professor Philip Shaw, Director of the King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, who’s academic work is focused on ADHD, chaired the webinar.
“The focus of the work on ADHD across the King’s Maudsley Partnership is to develop new and better treatments for ADHD to give children, young people and families greater choice.”
Increasing choice and quality of treatments
In recent years awareness and understanding of ADHD have increased, however the treatment and support options available to support children and young people with ADHD have not kept pace. Most treatments are medication-based, and while these can be effective, many families and young people want more choices — especially non-drug alternatives.
These thoughts were echoed by Tiegan Boyens a neurodivergent lived experience consultant who joined the panel. She reflected that it took her a long time to get an ADHD diagnosis due to misconceptions around ADHD such as that it manifests primarily in physical activity and in boys. She called on researchers to do more to investigate supporting children who have ADHD alongside other comorbidities. She also said she wants to see more non-drug based treatment options to be available.
“Research has helped me embark on my own journey and gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, both generally and personally.”
Novel brain therapies
Professor Katya Rubia is focused on pioneering non-drug treatments for children and adults with ADHD. She spoke about some of the recent discoveries in this area. She has been investigating non-invasive brain stimulation to see if these can mimic the effects of ADHD medication by targeting the same brain regions, but without the side effects of drugs. She shared promising findings using transcranial direct current stimulation in children and adults with ADHD and new findings around Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) which are due for publication in Nature Medicine in the coming weeks. She also reflected on the challenges of the placebo effect in studies involving cutting edge technology.
“High-technology brain therapies have more than twice the placebo effect compared placebo effects in drug studies. Therefore, it is crucial to control the placebo effect in brain therapies so that patients do not spend thousands of dollars on treatments that do not work and give them false hope.”
More information on the ATTENS (ADHD trial of external trigeminal nerve stimulation) project can be found here: ATTENS
Tools to support children’s sleep
Almost 75% of children with ADHD have sleep problems. Parents and carers report that poor sleep makes their children’s daytime behaviour and schoolwork worse and affects the quality of life of the whole family. However there are limited options for support and medication is the most common intervention. Professor Samuele Cortese provided insight into the DISCA (Digital Sleep Support for Children with ADHD) study. This research project aims to help parents, carers, and health professionals to manage sleep problems in children with ADHD.
“Medication should not be the first line of treatment for insomnia in children with ADHD yet behavioural interventions are not routinely available in the NHS. We have developed the first digital intervention of its kind to be tested in the UK for children with ADHD who experience sleep problems, and we are testing it in a trial. Parents/carers of children with ADHD and sleep problems will be offered this intervention for free if they take part in the study”
More information about DISCA including information on how families can sign up to get involved in the study can be found at Home | Disca Study
How data is guiding our work
Professor Johnny Downs who leads the CAMHS Digital Lab shared data around children with ADHD living in south London. The data tells us that early childhood factors and demographics including ethnicity and gender make an ADHD diagnosis more likely even though this doesn’t represent true prevalence. He found that children from non-white ethnic groups are almost 50% less likely to get a diagnosis. He reflected that services need to ensure they are engaging effectively with all local communities to ensure all children who need it can access support services for ADHD.
Professor Downs also reflected the ambitions of the CAMHS Digital Lab to continue to build digital tools to support parents and carers whose child is on the waiting list, or who has received a diagnosis, for ADHD. This follows successful outcomes from providing digital support to parents and carers on the waiting list for services via the My Health-E app. There is a virtuous circle that parents and carers receive more support and guidance whilst on the waiting list and their participation helps build a richer bank of data to underpin research into ADHD.
“The challenge for us is to use data in a way that helps people in clinics—clinicians, young people, and families—and to determine how we can use this data to make real changes in their daily lives and in the factors that might affect their treatment”
More information on the CAMHS Digital Lab can be found on its website Home | CAMHS Digital Lab
The webinar came just after ADHD Awareness Month, throughout which the King’s Maudsley Partnership has been highlighting it’s work on ADHD. The King’s Maudsley Partnership’s home will be in the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, due to open in 2026. The Centre will have a one of it’s kind research facility enabling us to revolutionise our understanding ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions, and mental health conditions that affect children and young people.
For more information, please contact Helen Honstvet on helen.honstvet@slam.nhs.uk or sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with the work happening across the Partnership. You can also watch the recording of the webinar on our YouTube channel.
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