Neural Mechanism, Application Progress and Clinical Challenges of Digital Drugs for ADHD Children

Traditional pharmacological treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) are limited by high incidence of adverse reactions, suboptimal adherence, and modest social acceptance. As software-driven therapeutic interventions, digital drugs(DD) offer safe, scalable, and personalized options for children with ADHD. This review focuses on DD in ADHD management: first, it explores potential neural mechanisms underlying their effects; second, it systematically summarizes major technological approaches—including gamified cognitive training, behavioral monitoring and feedback systems, immersive interaction technologies, and AI-driven personalized interventions—together with supporting clinical evidence; finally, it objectively compares DD with conventional medications in terms of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and discusses current challenges and future directions, aiming to provide insights for building integrated treatment frameworks that combine pharmacotherapy with DD.