Sleep disorders in hyperkinetic children--correlation with arousal disorders, differential diagnosis and comorbidity

Frolich J, Lehmkuhl G, Wiater A.

Klinik und Poliklinik fur Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der Universitat zu Koln.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders are frequently observed in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). At the same time, however, there is little evidence of their prevalence and their specific characteristics. Also unclear is a possible pathogenetic relationship between disturbed sleep and the core symptoms of ADHD. There are still very few findings on the role of comorbid internal and neurological disorders like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome in the differential diagnosis of ADHD. METHODS: We present an overview of the current literature, describing the most important results concerning sleep disorders in ADHD. RESULTS: A principal goal of future assessments is to ascertain whether sleep problems in children with ADHD represent unspecific concurrent symptoms or whether they play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Moreover a possibly increased risk of comorbid sleep-disordered breathing disorder might be an important issue in the differential diagnostic considerations with regard to ADHD.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12784523&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_DocSum