The role of sleep disturbances in attention deficit disorder symptoms: a case study.
Identified a 10-year-old girl with ADD and a 5-year history of sleep difficulties. Sleep difficulties (delayed sleep phase insomnia) were corrected while performing blind assessments of behavioral symptoms. The intervention (chronotherapy combined with a behavior modification program) resulted in an increase of sleep from 7.2 to 9.2 hours per night. Pre/postintervention behavioral measures indicated significant improvement in positive interactions with peers, increased productivity on a timed arithmetic task, and significantly increased percentage of assigned seatwork completed. Four-month follow-up in the natural school setting indicated improvement in teacher ratings and classroom performance. Despite the persistence of ADD symptomatology, the improvement in sleep apparently contributed to a clinically significant reduction in ADD.
Dahl
R E
RE
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Pelham
W E
WE
Wierson
M
M
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment