Can Imaging Help Personalize ADHD Therapy?

PostedOctober 6, 2025

UpdatedOctober 6, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Phoebe Carter, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

ADHD personalised imaging is a growing area of research that can play a significant role in tailoring treatments for individuals with ADHD. Through advanced brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and structural MRI, clinicians can identify biomarkers and brain patterns that are unique to each person, offering the possibility of precision medicine for ADHD therapy. These insights allow for more effective and targeted treatments, improving overall outcomes.

Imaging can reveal crucial information about the brain’s structure and activity, highlighting areas of dysfunction in networks responsible for attention, impulse control, and executive function. By assessing these areas before and after treatment, doctors can monitor progress and adjust therapies accordingly. This approach ensures that interventions, such as medication or CBT, are not one-size-fits-all but are instead tailored treatments based on each patient’s unique brain activity.

For example, biomarkers identified through imaging could indicate which patients are more likely to respond to stimulant medications versus non-stimulants. Alternatively, imaging may show whether neurofeedback therapy or cognitive training could offer better results for a particular individual. This precision approach increases the likelihood of therapeutic success and reduces the trial-and-error process often associated with ADHD treatment.

How It Helps

Attention and Focus Challenges

Imaging can identify areas of the brain that are underactive, such as the prefrontal cortex. Personalised imaging helps clinicians select the best treatments, whether medication or therapy, to target these specific areas for improvement.

Impulsivity

Imaging can also highlight areas responsible for impulse control, guiding tailored interventions like CBT to improve emotional regulation and behavioural control.

Personalised ADHD treatment, powered by imaging, represents a future where therapy is more precise and tailored to each individual. Visit providers like ADHD Certify for consultations that incorporate the latest in ADHD imaging and treatment strategies.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to ADHD personalised imaging.

Phoebe Carter, MSc

Author

Phoebe Carter is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology. She has experience working with both children and adults, conducting psychological assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based therapies. Phoebe specialises in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and learning disabilities, as well as mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. She is skilled in CBT, behaviour modification, ABA, and motivational interviewing, and is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals of all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.