Autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and sleep disorders
1Department of Neurosciences and Neurology, and The Autism Center, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. mingxu@umdnj.edu
Insights
Sleep disorders are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Addressing these sleep issues can improve daily functioning and well-being for individuals and families.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disorders are increasingly recognized as significant issues in developmental disorders.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occur with sleep disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest research on sleep disorders in individuals with ASD and ADHD.
- To highlight common sleep disruptions and their characteristics in these populations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research reports.
- Analysis of findings related to sleep patterns, architecture, and associated conditions.
Main Results:
- Sleep disruptions like prolonged sleep onset, fragmentation, and daytime sleepiness are prevalent in both ASD and ADHD.
- Parasomnias are common in ASD; sleep disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome are linked to ADHD.
- Abnormal sleep architecture, including REM sleep abnormalities, is reported in both conditions.
- The influence of psychiatric comorbidities on sleep disorders has been examined.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disorders are a significant concern for individuals with ASD and ADHD.
- Effective diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders can enhance daytime behavior and overall well-being.
- Further research with well-defined populations is needed to understand sleep characteristics and improve interventions.
Purpose Of Review:
There is increased awareness of sleep disorders and their complexity in developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This review is focused on the latest reports of research on sleep disorders in these two developmental disorders.
Recent Findings:
Sleep disruptions such as prolonged sleep onset latency, sleep fragmentation, and increased daytime sleepiness are repeatedly described in both ASD and ADHD. Parasomnias are common in ASD, but rarely studied in ADHD. Sleep disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome have been consistently associated with ADHD. Abnormal sleep architectures, including sleep fragmentation and rapid eye movement sleep abnormality, are reported in both ASD and ADHD. The impact of psychiatric comorbidity on sleep disorders is considered in recent studies.
Summary:
Sleep disorders are common in both ASD and ADHD. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders should improve daytime behaviors and well being of these individuals and their families. Further research on clinical characteristics and sleep architecture using well characterized and better-selected patient populations are warranted for both ASD and ADHD. Longitudinal study of sleep disorders and the treatment effects will provide a better understanding of the relationship between sleep disorders and the developmental disorders.
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