Key Takeaways:
- The role of telehealth in ADHD diagnosis is a growing concern, with nearly half of adults with ADHD using telehealth services.
- A recent study found that an online asynchronous assessment for diagnosing ADHD in adults had a high degree of agreement with traditional clinical interviews.
- The study had a low false positive rate of 12%, compared to 56% for clinicians conducting clinical interviews.
- The tool used in the study accounted for diagnostic complexity by teasing out contributing factors and diagnosing commonly associated mental health conditions.
- Artificial intelligence is not replacing clinical judgment in this model, but rather augmenting human clinicians with data-driven insights.
- The study’s findings have implications for clinical practice, highlighting the importance of evidence-based approaches and human oversight in telehealth-based ADHD diagnosis.
Introduction to Telehealth in ADHD Diagnosis
The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) 2026 Annual Conference featured a poster presentation by Barry K. Herman, MD, MMM, chief medical officer of Mentavi Health, on the validity of an online asynchronous assessment for diagnosing ADHD in adults. This study comes at a time when telehealth is becoming increasingly popular for ADHD care, with nearly half of adults with ADHD using telehealth services. However, concerns about diagnostic rigor, stimulant prescribing, and the use of emerging technologies have led to scrutiny of telehealth-based diagnostic tools. Herman’s study aimed to address these concerns by comparing the accuracy of an online assessment with traditional clinical interviews.
Study Design and Methodology
The study was a real-world study conducted on Mentavi Health’s treatment platform, with collaborators including Stephen V. Faraone, PhD, Andrew J. Cutler, MD, and Jeffrey H. Newcorn, MD. The study found a high degree of agreement between the online assessment and clinical interviews, with 80% sensitivity and a positive predictive value of 95%. The false positive rate for the online assessment was 12%, compared to 56% for clinicians conducting clinical interviews. This highlights the potential for variability in diagnostic approaches and the need for standardized, evidence-based methods.
Implications for Clinical Practice
The study’s findings have significant implications for clinical practice, particularly in the context of telehealth-based ADHD diagnosis. The high degree of agreement between the online assessment and clinical interviews suggests that online assessments can be a reliable and accurate tool for diagnosing ADHD in adults. Additionally, the low false positive rate of the online assessment highlights the potential for reducing misdiagnosis and improving treatment outcomes. Herman emphasized the importance of human oversight and clinical judgment in telehealth-based diagnosis, stating that "there’s no aspect of what we do in terms of diagnosis and treatment that doesn’t involve a human being."
Accounting for Diagnostic Complexity
The study also addressed concerns about diagnostic complexity, particularly in cases where ADHD co-occurs with other psychiatric conditions. Herman noted that 80% of patients with ADHD have at least one psychiatric comorbid condition, and that the online assessment used in the study accounted for this complexity by teasing out contributing factors and diagnosing commonly associated mental health conditions. This allows clinicians to use the assessment data to inform further exploration and treatment.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Telehealth
Many clinicians have expressed concern about the role of artificial intelligence in replacing clinical judgment. However, Herman emphasized that Mentavi Health’s approach uses AI to augment human clinicians, rather than replacing them. The company has established an AI ethics committee to ensure that AI is used in a responsible and transparent manner. Herman stated that "we’re not using chatbots and AI to make diagnoses… these are real humans that are taking the data that we collect and rendering their own human, clinical judgment."
Personal Motivation and Future Directions
When asked about his personal motivation for this work, Herman stated that he is driven by a desire to help people and improve their lives. As a physician, he is committed to using evidence-based approaches and human oversight to ensure that telehealth-based diagnosis is accurate and effective. Herman’s work has the potential to advance the field of telehealth and improve treatment outcomes for adults with ADHD. As the use of telehealth continues to grow, studies like this one will be essential in establishing the validity and reliability of online assessments and ensuring that patients receive high-quality care.
