Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Sleep in Children.
1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Sleep Medicine Clinics
|June 10, 2015
Summary
Research does not support basic assumptions about sleep issues in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Melatonin effectively treats sleep problems, and adequate sleep should be ensured before considering stimulant medication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Common assumptions linking Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children to disrupted sleep lack robust scientific evidence.
- Parental reports of bedtime resistance in children with ADHD are frequent, yet objective data on subsequent sleep disruption remains inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the scientific basis for the presumed link between ADHD and sleep disturbances in children.
- To review the impact of ADHD treatments and comorbidities on pediatric sleep patterns.
- To assess the efficacy of melatonin as a sleep intervention for children with ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing research on ADHD and sleep.
- Analysis of studies examining stimulant medication effects on sleep.
- Evaluation of research on sleep disorders comorbid with ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.
Main Results:
- Objective evidence confirming disrupted sleep in children with ADHD is limited, despite parental reports of bedtime resistance.
- Stimulant medication used for ADHD treatment may negatively impact sleep.
- Comorbid sleep or psychiatric disorders are consistently associated with significant sleep disruption.
Conclusions:
- The direct causal relationship between ADHD and disrupted sleep requires further investigation, challenging initial assumptions.
- Melatonin demonstrates efficacy in managing sleep problems for children diagnosed with ADHD.
- Prioritizing adequate sleep assessment and ensuring sufficient sleep is crucial before initiating stimulant therapy for ADHD.
Keywords:
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorderObstructive sleep apneaPeriodic limb movement disorderSleep apneaMore Related Videos
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