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Sleep interventions for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review

Larsson I, Aili K, Lönn M, Svedberg P, Nygren JM, Ivarsson A, Johansson P

Sleep medicine, 2023

20 participants · 58 citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Healthy sleep is particularly important for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as sleep disturbances might aggravate disease symptoms. This review aims to synthesize and report evidence on the effectiveness of sleep interventions in increasing sleep, quality of life (QoL), and ADHD symptoms among children with ADHD.

PATIENTS/METHODS: The systematic literature review follows the Cochrane Collaboration methodology recommendations for literature reviews. Four databases were used based on the population, intervention, control and outcome (PICO) framework. Controlled trials with minimum 20 children in each group, aged 6-18, and published from 2005 and onwards were included. Results from the studies were reported in forest plots and three of the seven review outcomes were synthesized in meta-analyses.

RESULTS: The search identified 7710 records; of which 4808 abstracts were screened. After fulltext-screening of 99 papers, eight papers from five studies were included. The studies included behavioral sleep interventions and pharmacological interventions using melatonin and eszopiclone. For six of the seven outcomes, the effect sizes were small to moderate and the certainty of the evidence was low. For one outcome, sleep disturbances, the effect size was a moderate -0.49 standardized mean differences (95% confidence interval -0.65;-0.33), with a moderate certainty of evidence for the behavioral interventions for children aged 5-13…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 20 participants or records.

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