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Parent-reported periodic limb movement, sleep disordered breathing, bedtime resistance behaviors, and ADHD

Jane F Gaultney1, Debra F Terrell, Jeannine L Gingras

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 28223-0001, USA. jgaultny@email.uncc.edu

Behavioral Sleep Medicine
|January 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are strongly linked to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) in children. Bedtime resistance may also independently contribute to ADHD symptoms by reducing sleep duration.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Behavioral Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Sleep problems are frequently reported in children with ADHD.
  • The specific sleep disorder associations with ADHD symptoms require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the strength of association between ADHD symptoms and specific sleep disorders.
  • To investigate the relationship between ADHD symptoms, sleep disordered breathing (SDB), periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), and bedtime resistance behaviors (BRBs).

Main Methods:

  • Parental completion of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire for 283 children.
  • Derivation of scales to assess risk for specific sleep disorders.
  • Correlation analysis between sleep disorder risk scales and ADHD symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Strong, independent interrelationships were found between periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) symptoms and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.
  • Bedtime resistance behaviors (BRBs) showed potential additional contributions to ADHD symptoms.
  • These associations persisted after controlling for age, SDB, and sleepiness.

Conclusions:

  • ADHD symptoms appear particularly related to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
  • Insufficient sleep duration due to bedtime resistance may independently contribute to ADHD symptoms.
  • Further research into the complex interplay between sleep disturbances and ADHD is warranted.

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