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Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in ADHD and chronic sleep-onset insomnia

Kristiaan B Van der Heijden1, Marcel G Smits, Eus J W Van Someren

  • 1Epilepsy Center Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, The Netherlands.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|January 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin treatment improved sleep onset and duration in children with ADHD and insomnia. However, it did not significantly affect behavior, cognition, or quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently experience chronic sleep onset insomnia.
  • Sleep disturbances can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and negatively impact daily functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of melatonin in improving sleep parameters in children with ADHD and insomnia.
  • To assess the impact of melatonin on behavior, cognition, and quality of life in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 105 children (ages 6-12) with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia.
  • Participants received 3 or 6 mg of melatonin or placebo for 4 weeks.
  • Primary outcomes included actigraphy-measured sleep onset, total sleep time, and dim light melatonin onset.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin significantly advanced sleep onset and dim light melatonin onset compared to placebo (p < .0001).
  • Total sleep time increased with melatonin treatment (p = .01).
  • No significant improvements were observed in behavior, cognition, or quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin effectively advances circadian rhythms and improves total sleep time in children with ADHD and insomnia.
  • Melatonin did not demonstrate significant benefits for behavioral problems, cognitive function, or quality of life in this cohort.
  • No significant adverse events were reported during the study period.
Abstract

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