SLEEP DISTURBANCES IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH HEALTHY SIBLINGS/

The sleep profiles of 13 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADI-ID) who were treated with a fixed dose of methylphenida te for at least 1 month were compared with those of 16 healthy sibling s. Sleep disturbances were assessed according to a structured sleep qu estionnaire, and the severity of ADHD was evaluated via the Conners pa rents Teachers Rating Scale. The results indicated that significantly more children with ADHD demonstrated single or multiple sleep disturba nces as well as higher rates of specific sleep disorders, such as init ial and middle insomnia, compared with their siblings. No correlation was found between the severity of ADHD and disturbed sleep. Sleep dura tion and satisfaction with sleep were similar in the two groups. These findings raise important questions regarding the association between ADHD and disturbed sleep.