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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
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Sleep disorders in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) recorded overnight by

Rosalia Silvestri1, Antonella Gagliano, Irene Aricò

  • 1Sleep Medicine Centre, Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anaesthesiological Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. rosalia.silvestri@unime.it

Sleep Medicine
|June 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience various sleep disturbances beyond common disorders. Video-polysomnography (video-PSG) can help identify these specific sleep issues in ADHD, aiding diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with sleep problems, though specific patterns across subtypes are not fully understood.
  • Classical sleep disorders like Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (PLMD), Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), and Sleep Related Breathing Disorder (SRBD) are often cited in ADHD populations.
  • A comprehensive understanding of diverse sleep disturbances in ADHD is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize specific sleep disturbances in distinct clinical subtypes of ADHD.
  • To utilize nocturnal video-polysomnography (video-PSG) to identify a broad spectrum of sleep disorders in children with ADHD.
  • To investigate the relationship between sleep disorders, ADHD phenotypes, and symptom severity.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-five children diagnosed with ADHD (mean age 8.9 years) were enrolled, categorized into Inattentive, Hyperactive/Impulsive, or Combined subtypes.
  • Behavioral assessments using Conners and SNAP-IV Scales, a structured sleep interview, and nocturnal video-polysomnography were conducted.
  • Sleep variables were compared between ADHD children and a control group.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of disturbed and fragmented sleep was reported, including motor restlessness, sleepwalking, night terrors, and confusional arousals.
  • Significant differences in sleep variables were observed between ADHD children and controls (p <0.05 or <0.001).
  • Specific sleep disorders, including PLMD and RLS, were correlated with ADHD subtypes and symptom severity, with 52% exhibiting arousal process abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep studies, particularly video-PSG, should be considered integral to the diagnostic screening process for ADHD.
  • Identifying specific sleep disorders in ADHD can lead to tailored treatments addressing phenotypic variations.
  • Integrating sleep assessments may improve the management and reduce the severity of ADHD symptoms.
Abstract

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