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. 2017 Jul:39:20-32.
doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2017.04.003. Epub 2017 May 3.

Parent-Reported Problematic Sleep Behaviors in Children with Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Katharine C Reynolds  1 , Michelle Patriquin  2   3 , Candice A Alfano  1 , Katherine A Loveland  4 , Deborah A Pearson  4
Affiliations

Parent-Reported Problematic Sleep Behaviors in Children with Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Katharine C Reynolds et al. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Sleep problems are frequent and well documented in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and children with internalizing problems, however limited work has examined sleep problems in children presenting with comorbid ASD/ADHD. In healthy children, sleep problems negatively impact social, emotional, and academic functioning. The current study sought to examine diagnostic severity as predictors of sleep problems in children with comorbid ASD/ADHD. Additionally, the association between sleep and "real-life" functional domains (i.e., intellectual functioning, academic achievement, and executive functioning) were assessed.

Method: Sleep, internalizing difficulties, intellectual functioning, academic achievement and executive functioning were assessed in 85 children with who carried the dual diagnoses of ASD and ADHD.

Results: Internalizing difficulties, rather than ASD or ADHD symptom severity, was the most consistent predictor of problematic sleep behaviors (i.e., nightmares overtiredness, sleeping less than other children, trouble sleeping, and Total Problematic Sleep Behaviors) in this sample. Further, parent report of problematic sleep behaviors was significantly associated with functional domains after controlling for ASD, ADHD, and internalizing symptoms.

Conclusions: Results suggest that internalizing symptoms are associated with problematic sleep behaviors in children with comorbid ASD/ADHD and may have implications for the "real-life" functioning among children with comorbid ASD/ADHD.

Keywords: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; autism spectrum disorder; child; psychopathology; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: We have no conflicts of interest to report with regard to this study. Dr. Pearson has received travel reimbursement and research support from the Forest Research Institute and Curemark LLC; Dr. Pearson has also served as a consultant to Curemark LLC and United BioSource Corporation (now Bracket). She has also received research support from Biomarin and Novartis.

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