REM-sleep alterations in children with co-existence of tic disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: impact of hypermotor symptoms.

Purpose: To characterize precisely the sleep pattern in children with co-existence of TD + ADHD.

Methods: By means of polysomnography, sleep pattern was investigated in 19 children with TD + ADHD unmedicated before and during study and 19 healthy controls, matched for age, gender, and intelligence.

Results: Compared with healthy controls, children with TD + ADHD displayed shorter REM sleep latency and increased REM sleep duration.

[Sleep behavior in children with tic disorders--a polysomnographic study].

Objectives: Study objectives included the characterization of the sleep pattern in a large sample of children with chronic tic disorder (TD), as well if whether or not sleep changes and movement-related arousals are associated with tic severity.

Methods: The sleep pattern of 25 children with a chronic tic disorder and who were unmedicated at the time of and during the study was investigated by means of polysomnography and compared to that of 22 healthy children matched for age, gender and intelligence.

Results: Children with a chronic tic disorder displayed a reduced quality of sleep, as well as an increased number of movement-related arousals during sleep compared to healthy controls.

Sleep patterns in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorder, and comorbidity.

Background: In children, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tic disorder (TD), and their coexistence (ADHD + TD comorbidity) are very common and clinically important. Associated sleep patterns and their clinical role are still insufficiently investigated. This study aimed at characterizing these sleep patterns in children with ADHD, TD, and ADHD + TD comorbidity and determining whether, in ADHD + TD, the factors ADHD and TD may affect the sleep pattern in an independent (additive) or in a complex (interactive) manner.

Self-regulation of visual attention and facial expression of emotions in ADHD children.

Objective: To test if visual focusing and mimic display as features of self-regulation in ADHD children show a curvilinear relation to rising methylphenidate (MPH) doses. To test if small dose steps of 2.5mg MPH cause significant changes in behavior.

[Indications for sleep laboratory studies in psychiatrically symptomatic children and adolescents].

Many mental and behavioural disorders during childhood and adolescence are associated with sleep difficulties. A polysomnography is seldom needed but indicated in following cases: In a general view when there is suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), excessive daytime sleepiness or suspected nocturnal seizures. Specific mental disorders with indication of polysomnography are: Diagnostic unclear and dangerous parasomnias, emotional disorders in case of differing sleep perception, Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette Syndrome with suspected (additional) OSAS, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD).