Adults with ADHD and sleep complaints: a pilot study identifying sleep-disordered breathing using polysomnography and sleep quality assessment.
OBJECTIVE
ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing are both prevalent in adulthood. Because both conditions may be responsible for similar symptoms of cognitive impairment, the authors investigate whether their presentation may overlap in adults diagnosed with ADHD.


METHODS
Data are collected from six adults with sleep complaints who were diagnosed with ADHD using rigorous clinical criteria. All participants undergo overnight polysomnography and complete questionnaires about sleep quality, circadian sleep pattern, and daytime fatigue.


RESULTS
On standardized measures, all participants report poor sleep quality, two report daytime fatigue, and none report distinct deviation from normal sleep and wake cycle pattern. Polysomnography reveals evidence of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep fragmentation in all participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Objective evidence of breathing-related sleep disorders can be found in some adults with carefully diagnosed ADHD who report sleep complaints. This report highlights the importance of identifying treatable sleep disorder comorbidity in adults with ADHD.
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Cambridge 02138, USA. csurman@partners.org
Craig B H
CB
Surman
Robert J
RJ
Thomas
Megan
M
Aleardi
Christine
C
Pagano
Joseph
J
Biederman
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires