Pilot Study to Determine Feasibility of Measuring Sleep Hygiene and ADHD in Mother, Father and School-Aged Child

Abstract

IntroductionAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is among the most commonly diagnosed disorders in children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and persists into adulthood in approximately two-thirds of cases. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports a prevalence of ADHD of about 5% among U.S. children between the ages of 4 and 17 years, although parent report indicates prevalence may be as high as 11% (about 6.4 million) of U.S. children. In addition to developmentally inappropriate hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, children with ADHD often have one or more comorbidity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The comorbidities may include mood disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, aggression, learning disorders, and sleep problems. Sleep in this population is of critical importance since adequate sleep is linked to working memory, learning efficiency, cognitive development, impulse control, and attention, all of which may be already impaired by ADHD.The connection between ADHD and sleep in children is complex with possible common neurological and genetic components. Between 50% and 70% of families report their child with ADHD has some kind of sleep problem, either physiological, behavioral, Pilot Study to Determine Feasibility of Measuring Sleep Hygiene and ADHD in Mother, Father and School-Aged Child AbstractChildren who have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have sleep problems than peers without ADHD. These problems affect quality and quantity of sleep which may exacerbate or mimic ADHD symptoms. Consistent sleep hygiene can ameliorate some sleep problems. However, at least 50% of children with ADHD have a parent with the disorder. These adults are likely to have sleep problems and executive function deficits that can make establishing and maintaining consistent sleep hygiene difficult. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine feasibility of a) 6-10-year-old children with ADHD tolerating actigraphy watches and completing sleep diaries with parent help, and b) of both mother and father completing surveys about their own sleep hygiene and ADHD symptoms as well as surveys about the child's sleep and sleep hygiene. A convenience sample of five parent-child triads was recruited from a small private school in the Southeast. Children had a diagnosis of ADHD, were between 6-10 years old, understood English. None of the children had begun puberty, had physiologic sleep problems, or had co-morbid Autism, Tourette syndrome, or anxiety disorder. All parents lived with the participating child, and read and wrote English. Parents did not have physiological sleep problems. Children were able to complete diaries and wear actigraphy watches while both parents were able to complete instruments for themselves and/or their child. The in person session with parent and child will focus on instruction on the actigraphy watches; parents will complete instruments in their home and return them with the watch to the principal investigator (PI) at the end...