Sleep and Stroop Performance with Adjunctive Melatonin in Pharmacotherapy-stable Pediatric ADHD: A Prospective Open-label Study
Abstract
Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently comorbid with sleep disturbances; evidence linking melatonin to objective neurocognitive outcomes in this population is lacking. The present study assessed the association of melatonin with parent-reported sleep disturbance scores and Stroop Color–Word Test performance in children and adolescents with ADHD and comorbid sleep disturbances on stable pharmacotherapy. Methods: Prospective, open-label, single-arm, 6-week study. Thirty-three participants (ADHD; Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire [CSHQ] score ≥41) on stable methylphenidate or atomoxetine were enrolled; 32 completed follow-up. Melatonin (3 mg/day .10). Adverse effects were mild and transient. Conclusions: Pre- and post-improvements in parent-reported sleep scores and Stroop performance were observed over 6 weeks of melatonin use; given the single-arm design, causal attribution is not possible. Randomized controlled trials with objective sleep measures and parallel cognitive assessment forms are warranted.
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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