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Disturbed sleep and activity in toddlers with early signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD )
Author(s) -
Bundgaard AnneKatrine F.,
Asmussen Jette,
Pedersen Nadia S.,
Bilenberg Niels
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/jsr.12686
Subject(s) - actigraphy , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , rating scale , sleep (system call) , child behavior checklist , medicine , psychology , cohort , clinical psychology , psychiatry , developmental psychology , insomnia , computer science , operating system
Summary This study investigated whether early signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) in toddlers aged 2–3 years are associated with disturbed sleep and activity levels. Participants were recruited from the Odense Child Cohort, and children scoring above the 93 rd percentile on the ADHD scale of the Child Behaviour Checklist 1½–5 were categorised as cases and compared with age‐ and gender‐matched normal‐scoring controls. Daytime and nocturnal activity for 24 children with ADHD traits (cases) and 25 healthy controls was assessed through 7 days of actigraphy, and parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire ( CSHQ ) and the ADHD Rating Scale IV Preschool Version ( ADHD ‐ RS ). Cases differed significantly on actigraphic parameters by having fewer minutes of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ), prolonged total sleep time, fewer sleep interruptions, and increased night‐to‐night variability. A significant association was found between fewer minutes of MVPA and higher parent‐reported motor activity on the ADHD ‐ RS . Furthermore, increased night‐to‐night variability was significantly associated with higher total scores on both CSHQ and ADHD ‐ RS . The findings show that early signs of ADHD are associated with an irregular sleep pattern and lower daytime activity, as illustrated by actigraphy. Studies investigating early ADHD risk factors could lead to a preschool ADHD risk index to help guide future early intervention.