[Sleep disorders in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder--results of a polysomnographic study]
Jan Frölich1, Gerd Lehmkuhl, Alfred Wiater
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der Universität zu Kóln. dr.jan.froelich@t-online.de
Insights
Sleep problems in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are independent symptoms. However, ADHD children with sleep issues may face higher risks for co-occurring breathing disorders, impacting diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Context:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in children with ADHD.
- The relationship between ADHD, sleep structure, and co-morbid sleep disorders requires further investigation.
Purpose:
- To investigate sleep structure and architecture differences in children with ADHD, with or without sleep disorders.
- To compare sleep patterns between ADHD children and children with sleep disorders.
- To assess the risk of co-morbid sleep-related breathing disorders in children with ADHD.
Summary:
- Polysomnography revealed that sleep problems in ADHD children are unspecific symptoms, with similar sleep structures observed in sleep-disordered ADHD children and those with primary sleep disorders.
- Minor sleep architecture differences were noted between non-sleep-disturbed ADHD children and healthy controls.
- Cardiorespiratory analyses indicated an elevated risk for sleep-related breathing disorders in a subgroup of ADHD children experiencing sleep problems.
Impact:
- Sleep problems in ADHD appear to be independent co-morbidities, not directly linked to vigilance functions.
- The heightened risk for sleep-related breathing disorders in some ADHD children necessitates consideration in differential diagnosis.
- Findings may inform clinical practice and diagnostic approaches for children with ADHD and sleep disturbances.
Objectives:
We report results of a polysomnographic study carried out with children aged 6 to 12 years with either ADHD or a sleep disorder. The study focussed on whether the sleep structure and architecture of n = 36 ADHD children with and without sleep disorders differed from that of either n=15 children with sleep disorders or n=87 children without sleep disorders. Moreover, we assessed whether there was an increased risk for co-morbid sleep-related breathing disorders among ADHD children.
Methods:
All children underwent polysomnography in a paediatric clinic. Principal variables of the sleep structure and architecture as well as cardiorespirographic measures were analysed.
Results:
Our findings demonstrate that sleep problems in children with ADHD seem to be unspecific concurrent symptoms since the sleep structure of sleep-disordered ADHD children and children with sleep disorders was similar. Only minor differences were found between non-sleep-disturbed ADHD children and healthy children without sleep problems.
Conclusions:
We conclude that sleep problems in ADHD are independent co-morbid symptoms without any pathogenetic relationship to vigilance functions in ADHD. The cardiorespirographic analyses showed that a subgroup of ADHD children with sleep problems may be at increased risk for co-morbid sleep-related breathing disorder. This finding is potentially important for differential diagnostic considerations in ADHD.
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