Best practices and common pitfalls

An effective ADHD pathway: 

✅ Combines subjective and objective data to support clinical decisions 

✅ Is patient-centered, ensuring high-quality care and understanding 

✅ Supports hybrid delivery with flexible scheduling that benefits patients and clinicians 

✅ Promotes tailored treatment plans for patients 

✅ Integrates smoothly with primary care, schools, and other services where shared care is needed 

An ADHD pathway that isn’t delivering, often:

❌ Considers assessment, titration, and follow-up as disconnected steps 

❌ Treats ADHD in isolation, rather than looking at the complete picture 

❌ Is admin-intensive with process gaps 

❌ Is inconsistently implemented across the operational workflow 

❌ Is inflexible, limiting potential to adapt patient care models mid-pathway 

1. What should a modern ADHD assessment workflow look like?

A modern ADHD assessment workflow is a combination of positive patient experience, use of evidence-based data, streamlined structure, and a consistent, scalable model. Introducing digital ADHD technologies to your workflow can act as a unifying point of reference or central anchor to connect these elements.

2. How can we reliably differentiate ADHD from anxiety, trauma, sleep issues, or depression in adults?

Many conditions have overlapping symptoms with ADHD. For a reliable diagnosis, it is important to focus on developmental onset, symptom persistence, and functional impairment over time. This can be a critical factor in differentiating ADHD from conditions such as anxiety, trauma, or depression, which may have developed later in life.

Adapting clinical interviews to ask more open-ended questions about daily routines can help to reveal symptoms that patients may be unaware of. Objective data can also help clinicians make a diagnosis in these complex cases.

3. How to adopt hybrid models of care safely?  

Safe hybrid ADHD care relies on clearly defined pathways that specify which steps can be completed remotely, and where in-person visits add value. Validated digital tools, standardized protocols, and careful documentation of data are key to maintaining clinical quality of care.

Parts of the ADHD care pathway, such as diagnosis, titration, and routine check-ins, are well-positioned for delivery in a hybrid model.

4. How do I explain ADHD results more clearly to patients?

The results from an ADHD test can be an effective tool for helping patients understand their ADHD symptoms and diagnosis. The QbCheck reports, for example, are highly visual, and clinicians can use them to facilitate conversations with patients and aid understanding.

Psychoeducation is also a useful tool to explain a diagnosis. Educational resources help patients understand their results in the context of ADHD as a condition and how it affects people.

5. How can I manage rising ADHD referrals without burning out the team?

Managing increased demand starts with streamlining workflows. Clear role allocation across the care team also helps protect capacity and reduce burnout. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends a multi-disciplinary approach to ADHD care.

In the UK, nurse practitioners have been able to take ADHD cases from stretched psychiatry team members by using objective data to help them complete assessments promptly and with increased confidence.

6. How do I make ADHD diagnosis more consistent across my team?

ADHD clinics should establish a clear pathway for ADHD assessment, titration, and long-term care. Using the same rating scales, a consistent approach to clinical interviews, and using objective testing can help ensure consistency. All patients will have the same quality experience in your clinic. Regular check-ins and shared learning further support diagnostic confidence across teams.

7. What objective tools actually help with ADHD diagnosis?

Objective tests like QbCheck measure the three core symptoms of ADHD (inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) in a standardized way. When used alongside subjective measures, they help diagnose ADHD with greater confidence and with quicker, more accurate evaluations.

The most effective tools are evidence-based, validated, and easy to integrate into existing workflows. When choosing, it’s important to find tools that are FDA-cleared for use in the US and CE-marked and registered with the MHRA if using them in the UK. Taking these steps can help to protect both you (legally and reputationally) and your patients.

8. What are the limitations of objective ADHD tests?

Objective tests should not be used to diagnose ADHD on their own. They are intended for use alongside subjective measures such as rating scales and clinical interviews.

Some objective tests may not be suitable for the youngest and oldest patients. As an example, QbCheck is only intended for patients aged 6-60.

They capture specific cognitive and behavioral patterns but do not account for context, comorbidities, or patient history. Their strength lies in complementing, not substituting, comprehensive clinical assessment.

9. How can we make ADHD services scalable and accessible?

Scalable ADHD services successfully balance standardization with flexibility. Using digital tools and technologies can help clinics expand their services and improve patient accessibility. This will also reduce travel time and support patients in underserved areas access quality care.

10. How can I prepare now for future ADHD care demands?

Developing successful ADHD care pathways involves the use of technology like online appointment scheduling, objective testing, and telehealth to maximize efficiencies and increase clinical capacity. Adopting multidisciplinary team approaches and forging greater links between primary and secondary care ADHD services can reduce pressure on clinical staff.