Sleep and COMT polymorphism in ADHD children: preliminary actigraphic data.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) polymorphism modulates aspects of sleep in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Nightly sleep actigraphic recordings during a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study (1 week of 0.5 mg/kg MPH; 1 week of placebo) were obtained for 34 children, 7.4 to 12 years old, diagnosed with ADHD (DSM-IV). Diagnosis was generated by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children and was confirmed by multidisciplinary consensus.


RESULTS
Children who were Val allele carriers had poorer sleep continuity compared with children with the Met-Met genotype while receiving a placebo and while receiving methylphenidate.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study support the hypothesis that sleep disturbances in children with ADHD are related to the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder.
Gruber
Reut
R
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.. Electronic address: reut.gruber@douglas.mcgill.ca.
Grizenko
Natalie
N
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
Schwartz
George
G
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
Ben Amor
Leila
L
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
Gauthier
Julie
J
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
de Guzman
Rosherrie
R
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
Joober
Ridha
R
Drs. Gruber, Grizenko, and Joober, Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Gauthier, and Ms. de Guzman are with the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and McGill University, Montreal; and Dr. Amor is with the Laval University and Hôpital Hôtel Dieu de Lévis, Quebec City, Canada.
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase