Bringing Objective Measures to ADHD

Problem: Current ADHD assessment tools are inadequate

BioBDx Solution:Objective measures of brain functions

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition of the brain that makes it difficult for a patient to control behavior. It affects approximately 9.5% of children ages 6-17, or 4.6 million children and adolescents and 4.4%, or 8.6 million adults in the United States. Symptoms persist into adulthood in as many as 60% of cases

• Hyperactivity – the inability to control movement and sit still while working
• Impulsivity – the inability to inhibit inappropriate responses
• Inattention – difficulty in staying focused and on task

ADHD may have serious consequences, including failure in school, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, risk for accidental injries and job failure. Early identification and treatment are extremely important.

ADHD historically has been challenging to diagnose and manage because the assessment tools rely on subjective information from rating scales and clinical evaluation. Rating scales are quetionnaires completed by parents or teachers and are prone to rater bias. Different observers disagree often. In contrast, The Quotient^® ADHD Test gives clinicians objective and accurate data to perform better assessments and to guide treatment decisions. The Quotient^® ADHD System accurately measures motiona and analyzes shifts in attention state to give a clear picture of the core symptom areas of ADHD.

The Quotient^® ADHD System is FDA-cleared for the objective measurement of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention as an aid in the assessment of ADHD. The system includes a data acquitision unit, a proprietary normative database, analytics an dreports. The second generation portable system for the mainstream market was introduced in July 2011. The value to the clinician and to the Company is Quotient^® test report and analytics.

The test takes 15 minutes for kids under age 13 or 20 minutes for adolescents and adults. The system collects data on the person’s ability to sit still, inhibit impulsivity and respond accurately to images on a computer screen. The clinician report displays graphical images and compares quantitative results to age and gender matched peers. The report is available to the clinician within minutes of the test completion.

Motion Analysis

The attention state summary provides the patient’s response patterns in 30-second blocks. Individuals with ADHD are much more likely to have difficulty sustaining focused attention. The greater percent of time spent off-task (i.e., not in attentive state) and the greater number of shifts in attention state are strongly associated with individusl who are more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.

Clinicians have been reimbursed for the Quotient ADHD Test by third party payers using existing reimbursement codes for psychological, developmental or neuropsychological testing. BioBDx has received confirmation that insurance claims have been paid by national payers including BlueCross BlueShield companies, United Healthercare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser, WellPoint and TRICARE.

• David Baron, DO, Chief of Psychiatry Services, USC
• Graham Emslie, MD, Chief of Child Psychiatry, UTSW
• Laurence Greenhill, MD, Chief of Psychiatry, Columbia
• Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, Chairman of Psychology, UC Berkeley
• Carroll Hughes, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, UTSW
• Jeffrey Newcorn, MD, Chief of Child Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai, NYC
• Martin Stein, MD, Professor Emeritus Developmental Pediatrics, UCSD
• Hans Steinder, MD, Professor Emeritus Child Psychiatry, Stanford
• Martin Teicher, MD, PhD, Director DBRP, McLean/Harvard