Sleep problems in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. 20-50% of ADHD affacted children have sleep disorders which can cause cognitive and behavioral disorders. This study was done to determine the sleep problems in children with ADHD. In this case control study, 52 children with ADHD was considered as cases and 52 school age children without ADHD as a control group in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2013. Sleep habits (CSHQ) and DSM-IV questionnaires were filled for each child. Sleep problems were observed in 45 (86.5%) and 36 (69.2%) of children in case and control group, respectively (P<0.05). The mean score of sleep problems in case and control group was 48.25±6.61 and 45.87±6.23, respectively (P<0.05). The score of resistance to sleep, anxious habits of sleep and waking during night in cases were more than controls (P<0.05). Sleep problems in children with ADHD are more frequent than children without ADHD.