Information Section: Conditions
Condition:
Sleep Disorders
Source: Leslie E. Packer, PhD    
This File Last Updated: February 2009  

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SLEEP DISORDERS - OVERVIEW

Sleep disorders are an important contributor to problems for adults, teenagers, and yes, even young children.

INTRODUCTION

How common are sleep problems in the general population? Owens et al. (2000) reported that 37% of school children they tested (from grades K - 4) suffered from at least one sleep-related problem. 

For adolescents, Roane and Taylor (2008) found that 9.4% reported symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia symptoms correlated significantly with use of alcohol, cannabis, and drugs other than cannabis; depression; suicide ideation; and suicide attempts. Insomnia symptoms during adolescence predicted depression in young adulthood. Their findings suggest that if an adolescent is reporting insomnia on a regular basis, they may need treatment that might help prevent developing other problems or depression in young adulthood.

Sleep disorders contribute significantly to academic, motoric, behavioral, and social-emotional difficulties, but Restless Legs Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep, narcolepsy, insomnia, and sleep apnea do not all have the same effect on daytime functioning. Because children and teenagers with the kinds of neurobehavioral disorders described on this web site are likely to have sleep-related problems, this article will provide a brief overview of some different types of sleep disorders and what we know about the kinds of sleep problems associated with different disorders. 

In addition to sleep problems described below, it is important to note that some children and adolescents also suffer from sleep-related side effects of medications that are used to treat the disorders. Stimulant medications used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, medications used to treat mood disorders, and some of the medications used to treat tics can all produce sleep problems that can affect the child in the classroom.

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS

 Insomnia

Out of all the sleep disorders, the one most familiar to the public is insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and/or poor quality sleep. Insomnia can lead to difficulties in daytime functioning and psychological distress. Although estimates of how common insomnia is have varied across studies, insomnia appears to occur in about 10% of the population, and is more common in women and the elderly. As Walsh (2004) summarizes: although insomnia is often perceived as a symptom of depression, it is also both a precursor of depression and is associated with a substantial increase in the relative risk of major depression. 

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by sensations of discomfort in the legs during periods of inactivity. People with RLS report sensations of crawling, creeping, and/or pulling or tingling. The sensation causes an irresistible urge to move the legs, and the discomfort is generally relieved by moving or stimulating the legs. RLS symptoms usually occur before sleep onset and make it difficult for the individual to fall asleep. 

Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep

Periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) involves episodes of repetitive, stereotyped limb movements during sleep; these movements are usually leg movements and associated with increased awakenings during the night. The individual may not be aware of these movements and/or of the awakenings.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OTHER DISORDERS AND SLEEP PROBLEMS

Many of the conditions described on this web site are associated with sleep disturbances. In some cases, such as mood disorders, sleep disorders are even part of the diagnostic criteria. The following is just a brief overview of some of the research on various disorders and sleep problems: 

ADHD and Sleep Problems

Sung, Hiscock, et al. (2008) investigated the prevalence of sleep problems in 239 children with ADHD and attempted to correlate sleep meausres with quality of life (QOL), daily functioning, and school attendance; caregiver mental health and work attendance; and family functioning. The study did not use objective measures of sleep problems, and used caregiver reports as their mesaures of severity of sleep problems, if any. They found that sleep problems were common: only 26.7% of caregivers reported that the child had no sleep problems, while 28.5% reported mild problems and 44.8% reported moderate or severe sleep problems.Moderate or severe sleep problems were associated with poorer child psychosocial QOL, child daily functioning, and caregiver mental health (yes,if our kids have moderate or severe sleep problems, it can stress us out: children with sleep problems are more likely to be late to school, and parents are more likely to be late to work). But what kind of sleep problems do children and adults with ADHD have?

In 1999, Picchietti et al. reported that unmedicated children who were newly diagnosed with ADHD had significantly more periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), and that they had significantly more arousals (awakenings) and overall less sleep than their non-ADHD peers. Similarly, Owens et al. reported that children with ADHD had more difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep than their non-ADHD peers, and recommended that all children with ADHD be screened for sleep disturbances, particularly sleep-disordered breathing. More recently, Cortese et al. (2005) found that 44% of clinical samples of patients with ADHD have Restless Legs Syndrome. 

Sobanski et al. (2008) investigated sleep problems in adults with ADHD using objective and subjective measures. Compared to non-ADHD controls, adults with ADHD demonstrated more nocturnal activity, reduced sleep efficiency, more nocturnal awakenings, and and reduced percentage of REM sleep.

Could treating the PLMS impact the symptoms of ADHD or school functioning? In an intriguing pilot study by Walters et al. (2000), 7 children with ADHD and PLMS or ADHD and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) were given monotherapy with either levadopa or pergolide* (both medications affect dopamine levels in the brain). The investigators reported that after treatment, three children no longer met the criteria for ADHD and three reverted to normal on the Test of Variable Attention. ADHD symptoms improved in all seven children (as measured by both the Connors and the Child Behavior Checklist). A significant improvement also occurred in the visual, but not verbal, memory scores on the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning. Five of the seven children continued on dopaminergic therapy for at least 3 years after treatment initiation with good response.

The stimulant medications typically used to treat ADHD all list insomnia as a possible side effect. Research by Corkum et al. (2008) confirmed that although methylphenidate was effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD in children, it resulted in significantly less total sleep time and significantly longer latency to sleep. In adults with ADHD, however, methylphenidate appeared to improve sleep. Sobanski et al. (2008) found that methylphenidate improved sleep efficience as well as subjective feelings of improved restorative value of sleep.

Shochat et al. (2009) studied 45 children with ADHD. Not surprisingly, they found a correlation between parental reports of sleep problems and behavior, but the relationship was not as strong as we might have expected once they took sensory defensiveness into account. Tactile sensitivity was a was a significant predictor for sleep, while sensation seeking and tactile sensitivity were significant predictors for behavior. Although this was just a preliminary study, it suggests that treating any tactile sensitivity might improve sleep and improve behavior.

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Information Section: Conditions
Condition:
Sleep Disorders
Article: About Sleep Disorders
Source: Leslie E. Packer, PhD    
This File Last Updated: February 2009

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