Long‐term follow‐up of melatonin treatment in children with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia
Abstract
Abstract: We conducted this study to assess long‐term melatonin treatment course, effectiveness and safety in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic sleep onset insomnia (CSOI). This was conducted by means of a structured questionnaire for the parents. The subjects of this study consisted of participants who previously participated in a randomised clinical trial on melatonin efficacy. The response rate was 93% (94/101). The mean time to follow up was 3.7 yr. No serious adverse events or treatment related co‐morbidities were reported. Sixty‐five percent of the children still used melatonin daily and 12% occasionally. Temporal discontinuation of treatment resulted in a delay of sleep onset in 92% of the children. Nine percent of the children could discontinue melatonin completely because of improvement of sleep onset insomnia. Long‐term melatonin treatment was judged to be effective against sleep onset problems in 88% of the cases. Improvement of behaviour and mood was reported in 71% and 61% respectively. We conclude that melatonin remains an effective therapy on the long term for the treatment of CSOI in children with ADHD and has no safety concerns regarding serious adverse events or treatment related co‐morbidity. Discontinuation of melatonin treatment usually leads to a relapse of sleep onset insomnia and in resuming melatonin treatment, even after several years of treatment.
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Melatonin discontinuation is associated with relapse of SOI in 92% of cases in children with ADHD.
“melatonin discontinuation was associated with relapse of SOI in 92% of cases.”
From A systematic review of circadian function, chronotype and chronotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Hoebert et al. (2009)
Melatonin discontinuation was associated with relapse of sleep-onset insomnia in 92% of cases in children with ADHD and sleep-onset insomnia.
“melatonin discontinuation was associated with relapse of sleep-onset insomnia in 92% of cases.”
From A systematic review of circadian function, chronotype and chronotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Hoebert et al. (2009)
Long-term melatonin treatment is effective against sleep onset problems.
“Long-term melatonin treatment effective against sleep onset problems.”
From A systematic review of circadian function, chronotype and chronotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Hoebert et al. (2009)
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- Authors
- Hoebert, M., Van Der Heijden, K. B., Van Geijlswijk, I. M., & Smits, M. G.
- Affiliations
- Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Smits, Marcel G.
- ORCID
- Smits, Marcel G.
- Venue
- Journal of Pineal Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-07-01
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-7
- ISSN
- 0742-3098 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-079X
- OpenAlex
- W2115975725
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 19.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Pineal Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- melatonin, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, long-term treatment, treatment discontinuation, treatment safety, sleep onset delay
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Central Nervous System Depressants, Child, Child Behavior, Chronic Disease, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Melatonin, Surveys and Questionnaires, Chi-Square Distribution, Statistics, Nonparametric
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