Is Telehealth ADHD Care as Accurate as Traditional Methods? The Answer Might Surprise You.
Imagine receiving a life-changing ADHD diagnosis from the comfort of your own home. Sounds great, right? But are these online assessments as reliable as the traditional, in-person evaluations we've relied on for years? This question is at the heart of an ongoing debate in the world of mental healthcare, especially as telehealth continues its rapid expansion.
At the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) 2026 Annual Conference, this very topic took center stage. Concerns about diagnostic accuracy, the responsible prescribing of stimulants, and the ethical use of new technologies were all hot topics. Dr. Barry K. Herman, Chief Medical Officer of Mentavi Health, presented a poster that shed light on the validity of online ADHD assessments for adults, offering some compelling insights into this evolving landscape.
A Closer Look at the Study: Bridging the Evidence Gap
Psychiatric Times had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Herman at the APSARD conference about his study, which aims to address a critical gap in our understanding of telehealth for ADHD. Dr. Herman explained that while telehealth has exploded in popularity, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, its effectiveness in diagnosing ADHD hadn't been rigorously compared to traditional clinical interviews.
"Telehealth offers incredible access and convenience – something sorely needed in our mental healthcare system," Dr. Herman stated. "Our goal is to make mental health assessment and treatment accessible and affordable for everyone, everywhere." However, he also acknowledged that some telehealth practices have raised concerns, casting a shadow on the field, particularly regarding ADHD diagnosis and stimulant prescriptions.
But here's where it gets controversial... While some worry about the potential for over-diagnosis or inappropriate prescribing in telehealth settings, a CDC report revealed that nearly half of adults with ADHD are already using telehealth services. This begs the question: is the convenience worth the risk? Dr. Herman's study aimed to provide some much-needed clarity. The study compared Mentavi Health’s online asynchronous assessment to the gold standard: a clinical interview conducted by a licensed mental health professional. The initial results were released in late 2024 and subsequently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in September 2025. The APSARD presentation served as another platform to share these findings and gather feedback from peers.
Study Design: Real-World Data and Expert Collaboration
Dr. Herman emphasized that this was a "real-world study" conducted primarily on their own treatment platform. To ensure methodological rigor, they collaborated with leading experts in the field, including Dr. Stephen V. Faraone, Dr. Andrew J. Cutler, and Dr. Jeffrey H. Newcorn. Their involvement added credibility and helped refine the study's approach.
Key Findings: Sensitivity, Specificity, and the Variability of Clinical Judgment
So, what did the study reveal? Dr. Herman shared some impressive statistics: "We were delighted to see a high degree of agreement between our diagnostic evaluation and a diagnostic clinical interview. We showed 80% sensitivity, a positive predictive value of 95%."
And this is the part most people miss... The study also revealed a surprisingly low false positive rate for the online assessment – only 12%, compared to a staggering 56% for the clinicians conducting the traditional clinical interviews! This suggests that the online tool may actually be more accurate in some cases.
"That says a lot about what's going on in the real world with the diagnosis of ADHD," Dr. Herman explained. "There's a tremendous amount of variability in the approach to diagnosis. Many different kinds of healthcare professionals are doing the diagnoses, many of whom don't have sufficient background, training, and expertise." He also pointed out that there are currently no definitive biomarkers for ADHD, meaning clinicians rely heavily on their own judgment when comparing patient symptoms to the DSM-5 criteria.
Dr. Herman believes this study sets a new standard for evidence-based practice in ADHD diagnosis and telehealth, paving the way for further research and innovation. He hopes that this will advance not only the diagnosis of ADHD in adults but also the broader field of telehealth, which he sees as largely untapped and understudied.
Addressing Diagnostic Complexity: Comorbidity Considerations
ADHD rarely exists in isolation. Dr. Herman acknowledged that a significant percentage of individuals with ADHD – around 80% – also have at least one co-occurring psychiatric condition. The online assessment is designed to identify these common comorbidities, providing clinicians with a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's mental health profile. This information can then be used to guide further exploration and treatment planning.
The Role of AI: Human Judgment Remains Paramount
Many clinicians are understandably concerned about the potential for artificial intelligence to replace human judgment in healthcare. Dr. Herman addressed these concerns directly, emphasizing that Mentavi Health has established an AI ethics committee to ensure responsible and ethical use of technology.
Here's another point that could spark debate: Dr. Herman clarified that their system does not rely on chatbots or AI to make diagnoses. Instead, real human clinicians review the data collected by the online assessment and use their clinical judgment to arrive at a diagnosis. He challenged other telehealth providers to adopt a similar commitment to scientific rigor and clinical oversight. "There's no aspect of what we do in terms of diagnosis and treatment that doesn't involve a human being," he stated.
A Personal Motivation: Helping People Live Better Lives
Finally, Dr. Herman shared his personal motivation for this work: a deep desire to help people. After spending years in the pharmaceutical industry, he's now closer to the individual patient encounter, directly impacting lives every day. "I'm really feeling it in terms of helping people every day," he said. "And that's really been kind of my mantra: trying to improve the lives of people and their families. And I'm very thankful to have this opportunity to be able to do that."
What do you think? Does this study ease your concerns about the accuracy of telehealth for ADHD diagnosis? Do you believe that online assessments can be a valuable tool for improving access to care, or do you worry about the potential for misdiagnosis and over-prescription? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Stay tuned to Psychiatric Times for continued coverage of the APSARD 2026 Annual Conference and other important developments in the field of mental health.
References
- Herman B. Validity of an online assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among a real world sample of adults seeking web-based mental health care. Poster presented at the APSARD 2026 Annual Conference (https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/conferences/apsard) ; January 15-18, 2026; San Diego, CA.
- Staley BS, Robinson LR, Claussen AH, et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023 (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/pdfs/mm7340a1-H.pdf) . MMWR. 2024;73(40).
- Herman BK, Faraone SV, Cutler AJ, et al. Validity of an Online Assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among a Real-World Sample of Adults Seeking Web-Based Mental Health Care (https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/validity-online-adhd-assessment-real-world-sample-adults-seeking-web-based-mental-healthcare/) . J Clin Psychiatry. 2025;86(3):25m15846.
Newsletter
Receive trusted psychiatric news, expert analysis, and clinical insights — subscribe today to support your practice and your patients.
