Positive results from the initial ADHD clinical trial provide a strong foundation for clinical adoption. Smartphone-based digital sensory phenotyping is emerging as a promising aid in diagnosing ADHD. BlinkLab has developed an innovative app that administers these tests, using the smartphone’s sensors to capture precise neurometric data.
As part of the agreement, Mental Care Group (MCG) anticipates integrating the BlinkLab app into their ADHD diagnosis processes. By analyzing nuanced behavioral and physiological responses collected via the app, BlinkLab aims to identify ADHD characteristics, offering patients a more rapid, accessible, and objective assessment method.
Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy and Efficiency
Through this partnership, MCG will use BlinkLab’s technology to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. This collaboration exemplifies the potential of BlinkLab’s mobile health platform to advance mental health diagnostics worldwide.
About Mental Care Group
Mental Care Group is the largest outpatient mental healthcare provider in the Netherlands and the fifth largest in Europe. With 150 locations, it includes a national network of psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists serving over 80,000 patients annually.
Leveraging its extensive knowledge and experience in Dutch mental healthcare, MCG focuses on all age groups. The care offered includes treatments for anxiety disorders, depressive complaints, PTSD, ADHD, and autism.
Commitment to Innovation
As a pioneer in e-health, MCG provides patients with multiple digital applications, including online enrollment, intake, and an extensive e-health library. A segment of their patient base also benefits from online or blended treatments.
In partnership with BlinkLab, MCG envisions a transformative future where medical technology, AI, and digital applications revolutionize prediction, diagnosis, and early intervention. An example of this innovation is the patient portal MCG developed in-house, which went online this week.
Regulatory Approval and Clinical Adoption
Collaboration Goals
BlinkLab and MCG will work together to obtain regulatory approval for the diagnostic application and accelerate its path to clinical adoption and reimbursement. The current study in the Netherlands could potentially contribute to a global ADHD study, with BlinkLab opening additional recruitment and testing.
Addressing ADHD Prevalence
ADHD affects 2.1-3.6% of Dutch children, with rising prevalence. Diagnosis typically takes more than 18 months, delaying necessary assistance. Accelerating this timeline could greatly benefit affected children and their families.
By identifying sensory processing patterns unique to ADHD, BlinkLab’s test outcomes aim to enhance diagnostic accuracy, leading to earlier and more personalized treatment. This partnership is a significant step toward merging technology with clinical assessment for efficient, objective, and measurable ADHD evaluations.
Reducing Waiting Times in Mental Healthcare
At the end of 2023, nearly 100,000 people were on waiting lists in mental healthcare in the Netherlands, with over half waiting longer than applicable standards. This has enormous consequences for patients and society.
A study by VU University Amsterdam found that every month on a waiting list reduces the likelihood of a patient returning to work by 2%. Reducing waiting times by one month could yield over 300 million euros annually.
Preliminary Study Results
Key Findings
In a preliminary study by MCG and BlinkLab involving 184 children aged 6-18, researchers explored the diagnostic utility of smartphone-based neurometric evaluation for ADHD. Key findings include:
• Children with ADHD exhibited significantly heightened sensitivity to specific sounds without impaired filtering ability.
• This distinction may explain their increased distractibility compared to peers.
The study used neurobehavioral testing to investigate differences in sensorimotor gating, particularly the acoustic startle response (ASR) and prepulse inhibition (PPI), between children with ADHD and neurotypical controls.
Experiment Details
The study, conducted at MCG in Rotterdam, involved a 12-minute experiment measuring ASR and PPI at various sound intensities. Facial landmark detection tracked eyelid positions. Results showed:
• Significantly higher ASR at 10% (p = 0.006) and 25% (p = 0.0003) of maximum sound intensity in children with ADHD.
• No significant differences in PPI.
These findings highlight the potential of smartphone-based neurobehavioral testing to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.
Comments from Leadership
Jan Willem van der Windt, CEO of Mental Care Group
“The Mental Care Group is dedicated to helping children with ADHD efficiently and effectively. Objective measurements could significantly speed up diagnosis and treatment, benefiting clients, their families, and healthcare providers. BlinkLab offers a promising solution, combining innovative AI with measurable outcomes.”
Dr. Henk-Jan Boele, CEO of BlinkLab
“This partnership with the Mental Care Group is a huge milestone for BlinkLab. Together, we will work toward clinical adoption and reimbursement of BlinkLab evaluations. Data from our first study demonstrate the clinical value BlinkLab provides. We are grateful for this collaboration and look forward to achieving our shared goals.”
