Maria Grazia Melegari1,Elena Vittori2 Luca Mallia1Alessandra Devoto 1Fabio Lucidi1Raffaele Ferri3Oliviero Bruni1
- 1
- Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- 2
- Centro Ricerca e Cura Balbuzie e disturbi della voce e del linguaggio, Rome, Italy
- 3
- Oasi Institute (IRCCS), Troina, Italy
Journal of Attention Disorders: SAGE Journals
October 4, 2016
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To assess the features of sleep in preschoolers with ADHD by means of questionnaire and actigraphy.
Method: Twenty-five ADHD and 21 age-matched typically developing (TD) preschool children underwent the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 1½ to 5 and Pre-School-Age Psychiatric Assessment interview. Sleep was assessed by means of a modified Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and wrist actigraphy for at least 5 days.
Results: Children with ADHD, compared with TD, showed higher scores in CBCL Withdrawal (58.83 vs. 51.15, p < .0001), Attention Problems (69.88 vs. 51.54, p < .0001), and Aggressive Behavior (59.46 vs. 51.08, p < .0001) dimensions; they also showed increased actigraphic nocturnal activity (activity index 31.57 vs. 25.74, p < .05); and night-to-night variability for sleep minutes (56.44 vs. 32.79, p < .01), mean wake episodes (1.34 vs. 0.98, p < .05), mean activity (2.64 vs. 1.71, p < .05), and activity index (5.15 vs. 3.77, p < .05).
Conclusion: This pilot study in preschoolers with ADHD showed increased motor activity during sleep and night-to-night variability for sleep duration and motor activity.
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