Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster
05:59

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: October 20, 2023

Sleep hygiene and melatonin treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD and initial insomnia

Margaret D Weiss1, Michael B Wasdell1, Melissa M Bomben1

  • 1Dr. Weiss, Mr. Wasdell, and Ms. Bomben are with the Division of Child Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; Ms. Rea is with the Provincial ADHD Program, Childrenapos;s and Womenapos;s Health Centre of British Columbia; and Dr. Freeman is with the British Columbia Childrenapos;s Hospital and the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|May 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Sleep hygiene and melatonin effectively treat initial insomnia in children with ADHD. This combined approach improved sleep duration without negatively impacting ADHD symptoms, offering a safe treatment option.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience initial insomnia.
  • Stimulant medication for ADHD can sometimes exacerbate sleep difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of sleep hygiene and melatonin for treating initial insomnia in children with ADHD.
  • To determine if combined interventions improve sleep without worsening ADHD symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • A study involved 27 children (6-14 years) with ADHD and initial insomnia receiving sleep hygiene intervention.
  • Non-responders underwent a 30-day double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 5mg melatonin.
  • Effect sizes and changes in initial insomnia duration were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Sleep hygiene alone reduced initial insomnia in some cases (effect size 0.67).
  • Melatonin significantly reduced initial insomnia by 16 minutes compared to placebo (effect size 0.6).
  • The combined intervention showed a large effect size (1.7), decreasing initial insomnia by 60 minutes from baseline. Adverse events were mild and comparable to placebo. Improved sleep did not affect ADHD symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Combined sleep hygiene and melatonin is a safe and effective treatment for initial insomnia in children with ADHD on stimulant medication.
  • This therapeutic strategy addresses sleep disturbances without compromising ADHD symptom management.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Insomnia01:27

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge: