Sleep in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of polysomnographic studies
Abstract
The links between sleep and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been a topic for intense ongoing research and clinical interest. Previous narrative literature reviews conveyed a consensus that parents of children with ADHD are more likely to report sleep problems in their children in comparison to parents of control children. However, when objective measures are considered the results appear to be more complex and inconsistent. This review is based on a meta-analysis of relevant polysomnographic studies. We assessed measures related to sleep architecture, breathing disorders, and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), and the role of potential moderators such as age, gender, and other methodological factors. The meta-analysis revealed only one significant combined effect that indicates that children with ADHD are more likely than controls to suffer from PLMS. Factors such as age, gender, inclusion of adaptation night, and comorbidity appear to play a moderating role in the associations between sleep characteristics and ADHD. To provide new insight regarding the links between sleep and ADHD research in this field should adopt new strict guidelines and consider the role of multiple pertinent moderating factors.
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Three meta-analyses of polysomnographic studies found no significant alterations in REM sleep parameters in children with ADHD compared with controls.
“However, three meta-analyses of polysomnographic studies found no significant alterations in REM sleep parameters in children with ADHD compared with controls (Cortese et al. 2006a, 2009; Sadeh et al. 2006).”
From Associations of sleep disturbance with ADHD: implications for treatment (2015) · cites this paper as Sadeh et al. 2006
A meta-analysis of 11 studies found a higher incidence of periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) in children with ADHD than in controls.
“In a meta-analysis of 11 studies, the only statistically significant polysomnographic finding was a higher incidence of periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) in children with ADHD than in controls (Sadeh et al. 2006).”
From Associations of sleep disturbance with ADHD: implications for treatment (2015) · cites this paper as Sadeh et al. 2006
These children were also impaired in some actigraphic and polysomnographic measures indicating fragmented sleep and poor sleep efficiency, sleep disordered breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
“These children were also impaired in some actigraphic and polysomnographic measures indicating fragmented sleep and poor sleep efficiency, sleep disordered breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness [122].”
From European guidelines on managing adverse effects of medication for ADHD (2011) · cites this paper as [122]
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References 64 · Cited by 250
- Authors
- Sadeh, A., Pergamin, L., & Bar-Haim, Y.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Sadeh, Avi
- ORCID
- Sadeh, Avi
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 381-398
- ISSN
- 1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2126524987
- Cited by
- 250
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 2.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, sleep architecture, periodic limb movements in sleep, sleep-disordered breathing, polysomnography, sleep disorders, comorbidities, age and gender moderators, objective sleep measures
- MeSH terms
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Humans, Comorbidity, Polysomnography, Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome
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