Sleep Parameters and Architecture in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison with Typically Developing Peers and Across Subtypes

Sleep Parameters and Architecture in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison with Typically Developing Peers and Across Subtypes

Sleep problems in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common, yet poorly understood. Furthermore, little research has been done to compare sleep between subtypes of children with ADHD. The current study used polysomnography to investigate sleep architecture and sleep parameters in a rigorously diagnosed, medication-naïve, age- and sex-matched sample of children with ADHD and their typically developing (TD) peers. Sleep was compared between 25 children with ADHD and 25 TD children between 6 and 12 years of age, and between children with different subtypes of ADHD. Results indicate that children with ADHD took longer to fall asleep than their TD peers; however, no other differences in sleep between the two groups were identified. Furthermore, no differences were found in any sleep parameters or sleep architecture variables between ADHD subtypes. Future research should continue to investigate sleep in children with ADHD by investigating additional sleep variables including nocturnal movement, stage shifts per hour, and sleep microstructure.