ADHD Remote Technology and Transition: The teenage years can be tough for young people with ADHD. This stage of life often brings big changes, like finishing school, starting work, or moving out. It’s also a time when conditions like depression, substance use, or delinquency often begin. These new challenges and fewer support networks can leave young people with ADHD especially vulnerable.

At the same time, many teens with ADHD stop receiving care during the switch from children’s to adult mental health services. In the UK, most don’t successfully transfer to adult services even though they still need help. Many young people end up without the right support during this critical time.

Our research programme aims to change this by answering three big questions:

1. What changes happen for teens with ADHD as they grow up? 
2. What predicts these changes?
3. How can we prevent problems and support healthy lifestyles? 

To do this, we’re using remote measurement technology (RMT). This technology lets us gather detailed, real-life data about teens’ daily lives. We’ll monitor 250 young people with ADHD over two years using: 

• Active monitoring: Questionnaires, speech tasks (via a custom smartphone app), and cognitive tasks on a home computer. 
• Passive monitoring: Wearable devices and a Passive App to track physical activity, sleep, social interactions, location, and phone use. 

Based on these insights, we’ll co-design an app with young people with ADHD. This app will help them manage their condition, personalise their treatment, and stay connected with adult services. The app could include features like personalised tips, reminders, educational tools, and feedback sharing with clinicians. The focus is on giving teens greater control over their ADHD and preventing challenges before they happen.