Meta-analysis of the efficacy of digital therapies in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Fan He; Yanjie Qi; Yuanyue Zhou; Aihua Cao; Xin Yue; Shuanfeng Fang; Yi Zheng

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1054831

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of digital therapies in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Front Psychiatry. 2023 May 16:14:1054831. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1054831. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fan He¹, Yanjie Qi¹, Yuanyue Zhou², Aihua Cao³, Xin Yue⁴, Shuanfeng Fang⁵, Yi Zheng¹

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
² Department of Medical Psychology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
³ Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
⁴ MaiDeHaiKe Technology, Beijing, China.
⁵ Children's Hospital Affiliated, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that commonly occurs in childhood. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the available evidence for the efficacy of digital therapeutics in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), and Web of Science (science and social science citation index) databases for relevant studies and used Stata 15.0 software to carry out the meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 31 studies involving 2169 participants (1665 boys and 504 girls) aged 4-17 years old were included in the final analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that digital interventions improved the symptoms of inattention with an effect value of -0.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.36, -0.04) and decreased the continuous performance task (CPT) reaction time (effect, -0.40, 95% CI -0.73, -0.07) in ADHD patients. The score for impulsive hyperactivity was slightly decreased (effect, -0.07, 95% CI -0.23, 0.09). Moreover, executive function was improved (effect, 0.71, 95% CI 0.37, 1.04). The capability of working memory appeared to be increased (effect, 0.48, 95% CI 0.21, 0.76) between the two groups. Visual appraisal of the sensitivity analysis suggested the absence of heterogeneity, and no obvious publication bias was detected.

Discussion: Based on the existing literature evidence, we conclude that digital therapy can be a promising therapeutic strategy for ADHD patients.

Keywords: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; digital therapy; executive function; impulsive hyperactivity; inattention; meta-analysis; working memory.

Publication types

Systematic Review

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Research on Comprehensive Intervention Strategies for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a key special project of the 13th Five Year Research on the Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (Grant No. 2016YFC1306100) and ADHD digital intervention efficacy study, a AI+ healthcare innovation project funded by Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Grant No. Z221100003522013).