Objective: ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing are both prevalent in adulthood. Because both conditions may be responsible for similar symptoms of cognitive impairment, the authors investigate whether their presentation may overlap in adults diagnosed with ADHD. Method: Data are collected from six adults with sleep complaints who were diagnosed with ADHD using rigorous clinical criteria. All participants undergo overnight polysomnography and complete questionnaires about sleep quality, circadian sleep pattern, and daytime fatigue. Results: On standardized measures, all participants report poor sleep quality, two report daytime fatigue, and none report distinct deviation from normal sleep and wake cycle pattern. Polysomnography reveals evidence of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep fragmentation in all participants. Conclusion: Objective evidence of breathing-related sleep disorders can be found in some adults with carefully diagnosed ADHD who report sleep complaints. This report highlights the importance of identifying treatable sleep disorder comorbidity in adults with ADHD.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
Biederman, J. (1998). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A life span perspective. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 59(Suppl. 7), 4-16.
3.
iederman, J. (2004). Impact of comorbidity in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 65(Suppl. 3), 3-7.
4.
Depoorte, H. (1985). Adrenergic agonists and antagonists and sleep-wakefulness stages. In A. Wauquier, J. M. Gaillard, J. M. Monti, & M. Radulovacki (Eds.), Sleep: Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators (pp. 79-92). New York: Raven.
5.
Kessler, R. (2004, May). Prevalence of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Paper presented at the American Psychiatric Association meeting, New York.
6.
Mannuzza, S., & Klein, R. G. (2000). Long-term prognosis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 9(3), 711-726.
7.
Murphy, K., & Barkley, R. A. (1996). Prevalence of DSM-IV symptoms of ADHD in licensed drivers: Implications for clinical diagnosis. Journal of Attention Disorders, 1, 147-161.
8.
Naseem, S., Chaudhary, B., & Collop, N. (2001). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults and obstructive sleep apnea. Chest, 119, 294-296.
9.
Rechtschaffen, A., & Maron, L. (1964). The effect of amphetamine on the sleep cycle. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 16, 438-445.
10.
Sangal, R. B., & Sangal, J. M. (2004). Rating scales for inattention and sleepiness are correlated in adults with symptoms of sleep disordered breathing syndrome, but not in adults with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Sleep Medicine, 5, 133-135.
11.
Scammell, T., Thomas, R., Galaburda, A., & Matheson, J. K. (1998). Sleep disorders are common among adults referred for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Sleep, 21, 167.
12.
Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B., Gibbon, M., & First, M. B. (1990). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R: Non-Patient Edition (SCID-NP, Version 1.0). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
13.
Vogel, G. W., Buffenstein, A., Minter, K., & Hennessey, A. (1990). Drug effects on REM sleep and on endogenous depression. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 14, 49-63.
14.
Weaver, E. M., Kapur, V., & Yueh, B. (2004). Polysomnography vs self-reported measures in patients with sleep apnea. Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, 130, 453-458.
15.
Yuen, K. M., & Pelayo, R. (1999). Sleep disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281(9), 797.
