Mahmut Cem Tarakçioğlu1, Muhammed Tayyib Kadak2, Gözde Akkin Gürbüz2, Burç Çağrı Poyraz2, Fırat Erdoğan3, Umut Mert Aksoy4. 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, İstanbul, Turkey. 3. Istanbul Medipol University, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between circadian characteristics and behavioral problems in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=53), and to compare this group with healthy controls (n=38). METHOD: Fifty-three medication-free children with ADHD, aged 6-12 years, and 38 healthy children, age and sex matched, participated. Parents completed the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised, the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ), and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to assess sleep variables. RESULTS: ADHD children had more sleep-onset problems and parasomnias (in CSHQ) compared to healthy controls. However, circadian preferences did not differ between the groups in CCTQ scores. Another important finding was a mild correlation between parasomnia, bedtime on schooldays, and ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that children with ADHD showed more resistance to going to bed than did controls on school days. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, morningness/eveningness preference did not differ from controls in ADHD children.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between circadian characteristics and behavioral problems in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=53), and to compare this group with healthy controls (n=38). METHOD: Fifty-three medication-free children with ADHD, aged 6-12 years, and 38 healthy children, age and sex matched, participated. Parents completed the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised, the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ), and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to assess sleep variables. RESULTS: ADHD children had more sleep-onset problems and parasomnias (in CSHQ) compared to healthy controls. However, circadian preferences did not differ between the groups in CCTQ scores. Another important finding was a mild correlation between parasomnia, bedtime on schooldays, and ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that children with ADHD showed more resistance to going to bed than did controls on school days. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, morningness/eveningness preference did not differ from controls in ADHD children.