title: Hypnopolygraphic alterations in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) children.
abstract: The sleep pattern of 13 prepubertal children, nonmedicated, rigourously diagnosed as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was recorded for two consecutive nights. Analyses of sleep pattern variables revealed a marked reduction of sleep onset latency (p less than .01), a great number of nocturnal awakenings (p less than .01), and a high increase of Delta sleep percentage (p less than .01) for the ADD children compared to normals. In addition, the two subtypes of the disorder--ADD with hyperactivity (ADD/H) and ADD without hyperactivity (ADD/WO) or ADD undifferentiated--showed distinct hypnopolygraphic correlates. Those ADD/H children had a greater sleep fragmentation and a lesser degree of sleep efficiency. These findings would support the hypothesis that ADD is related to a deficient control of arousal level and, on the other hand, suggest that ADD/H and ADD/WO are different clinical entities.
authors: Dept. of Psychobiology, School of Psychology, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Ramos Platon
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vela Bueno
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Espinar Sierra
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kales
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D012890:Sleep; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness