[Sleep disorders in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder--results of a polysomnographic study].
OBJECTIVE
We report results of a polysomnographic study carried out with children aged 6 to 12 years with either ADHD or a sleep disorder. The study focussed on whether the sleep structure and architecture of n = 36 ADHD children with and without sleep disorders differed from that of either n=15 children with sleep disorders or n=87 children without sleep disorders. Moreover, we assessed whether there was an increased risk for co-morbid sleep-related breathing disorders among ADHD children.


METHODS
All children underwent polysomnography in a paediatric clinic. Principal variables of the sleep structure and architecture as well as cardiorespirographic measures were analysed.


RESULTS
Our findings demonstrate that sleep problems in children with ADHD seem to be unspecific concurrent symptoms since the sleep structure of sleep-disordered ADHD children and children with sleep disorders was similar. Only minor differences were found between non-sleep-disturbed ADHD children and healthy children without sleep problems.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that sleep problems in ADHD are independent co-morbid symptoms without any pathogenetic relationship to vigilance functions in ADHD. The cardiorespirographic analyses showed that a subgroup of ADHD children with sleep problems may be at increased risk for co-morbid sleep-related breathing disorder. This finding is potentially important for differential diagnostic considerations in ADHD.
Frölich
Jan
J
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der Universität zu Kóln. dr.jan.froelich@t-online.de
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
Wiater
Alfred
A
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D012306:Risk; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology