A study examining the impact of sleep interventions in children with ADHD found that the interventions improved symptoms and quality of life, according to The BMJ.
In this randomised controlled trial, a behavioural sleep intervention in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems was associated with several substantial and sustained benefits for both the children and their families. The families reported greater improvements in their children’s ADHD symptoms, sleep, behaviour, health related quality of life, and daily functioning, and teachers reported improved behaviour. The parents also reported increased work attendance, and at six months the children also tended to have improved working memory and fewer days late for school. Data from actigraphy suggested an improved sleep duration of around 70 minutes a week in the intervention group. However, similar to other groups attempting to use the actigraphy devices (Actiwatch 2; Philips Respironics) in children with developmental problems,26 we encountered several practical issues (children refusing to wear, destroying, or losing the device), so these results must be interpreted with caution.
