Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

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

Published on: August 8, 2019

Contributions of circadian tendencies and behavioral problems to sleep onset problems of children with ADHD

Reut Gruber1, Laura Fontil, Lana Bergmame

  • 1McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. reut.gruber@douglas.mcgill.ca

BMC Psychiatry
|November 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience more sleep onset problems. Externalizing behaviors and evening circadian tendencies contribute to these issues, independent of ADHD diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Behavioral Psychology

Background:

  • Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit a 2-3 fold increased risk for sleep disturbances.
  • Sleep onset problems are a common complaint among children diagnosed with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate the contributions of circadian preferences and behavioral issues to sleep onset difficulties in children with ADHD.
  • To investigate if ADHD diagnosis moderates the relationship between circadian preferences, externalizing behaviors, and sleep onset problems.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized sleep logs and questionnaires for parental reports on bedtime routines and sleep.
  • Employed ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) for objective sleep architecture assessment.
  • Included 75 children aged 7-11 years, with 26 diagnosed with ADHD and 49 as controls.

Main Results:

  • Externalizing problems significantly predicted bedtime resistance in both ADHD and control groups.
  • An evening circadian preference was associated with sleep onset delay and longer sleep-onset latency.
  • No significant interaction was found between ADHD status and the influence of behavioral or circadian factors on sleep onset.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep onset problems in children with ADHD stem from diverse causes requiring tailored interventions.
  • Parental reports, specifically the CSHQ, can help distinguish these varied etiologies.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World10:16

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

Published on: April 7, 2020

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

Related Concept Videos

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.
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response01:15

Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response

Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
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...
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...