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Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
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Sleep problems in pediatric epilepsy and ADHD: The impact of comorbidity

Ozalp Ekinci1, Çetin Okuyaz2, Serkan Gunes1

  • 1Mersin University School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|April 25, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Children with epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience the worst sleep problems. This comorbidity significantly impacts sleep quality more than ADHD or epilepsy alone.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with pediatric epilepsy.
  • Sleep disturbances are common in both ADHD and epilepsy, but the epilepsy-ADHD comorbidity's sleep profile is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare sleep problems in children with epilepsy, children with epilepsy-ADHD comorbidity, and children with primary ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was administered to 53 children with epilepsy, 35 with epilepsy-ADHD, and 52 with primary ADHD.
  • Epilepsy-related variables were reviewed from neurology charts.
  • ADHD subtypes were diagnosed per DSM-IV criteria.

Main Results:

  • The epilepsy-ADHD group exhibited the highest CSHQ total scores, indicating poorer sleep quality compared to the other two groups.
  • Children with epilepsy-ADHD also showed higher CSHQ subscores for sleep onset delay and sleep anxiety.
  • Moderate to severe sleep problems affected 62.9% of children with epilepsy-ADHD, versus 40.4% with primary ADHD and 26.4% with epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • The comorbidity of epilepsy and ADHD is associated with significantly worse sleep quality than either condition alone.
  • Sleep problems in epilepsy-ADHD are more severe, particularly concerning sleep onset and anxiety.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHDChildrenEpilepsySleep

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