Attention deficit disorders and sleep/arousal disturbance

Many children, adolescents, and adults with Attention Deficit Disorders report chronic difficulties with falling asleep, awakening and/or maintaining adequate daytime alertness. These problems may be due to a variety of factors, including environment, lifestyle, and psychiatric comorbidities. Impairments in sleep/arousal may also be related more directly to the underlying pathophysiology of ADD. This chapter describes clinical manifestations of sleep/arousal problems often associated with ADD and reviews behavioral and medication options for treatment.