Sleep and COMT polymorphism in ADHD children: preliminary actigraphic data.

Objective: To examine whether COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) polymorphism modulates aspects of sleep in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Nightly sleep actigraphic recordings during a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study (1 week of 0.5 mg/kg MPH; 1 week of placebo) were obtained for 34 children, 7.4 to 12 years old, diagnosed with ADHD (DSM-IV). Diagnosis was generated by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children and was confirmed by multidisciplinary consensus.

Results: Children who were Val allele carriers had poorer sleep continuity compared with children with the Met-Met genotype while receiving a placebo and while receiving methylphenidate.

Conclusions: The findings of the present study support the hypothesis that sleep disturbances in children with ADHD are related to the underlying pathophysiology of the disorder.