A Brief Parent-based Sleep Intervention for ADHD Children

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Insomnia; ADHD

Treatments: Behavioral: Sleep hygiene practices and behavioural intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03263156

30160604

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sleep problems are very common in children with ADHD, with a prevalence rate as high as 73%, and often pose significant challenges and stress to the families. Sleep problems in ADHD children are strongly associated with the exacerbation of daytime symptoms, impaired physical health, and poor parental mental health. The present study is a randomised controlled trial to compare the effects of a parent-based sleep intervention for children with ADHD (aged 6-12). Eligible participants will be randomised to either intervention (two face-to-face consultation sessions and one follow-up phone call) or waiting-list control condition. Assessments will be conducted at pre-treatment (baseline), one-week after the intervention (post-treatment), and 3 months after the intervention.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 6-12 years old;
• With a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (any subtype), as confirmed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-version-IV (DISC-IV);
• With parent-reported insomnia (difficulty initiating sleep and/or maintaining sleep).

Exclusion criteria

• Children with a serious medical condition (e.g. severe cerebral palsy) or intellectual disability (IQ<70);
• Children with a neurological and/or medical condition that may lead to disordered sleep;
• Suspected clinical sleep disorders (e.g. obstructive sleep apnea, OSA) that may potentially contribute to a disruption in sleep continuity and quality, as assessed by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). If the child is suspected of a clinical sleep disorder, he/she will be referred to appropriate services;
• Children who are already receiving specialised help (behavioural intervention) for their sleep from a psychologist or at a specialized sleep clinic.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention will involve two face-to-face consultation sessions and one follow-up phone call with parents to help them learn sleep hygiene practices and specific behavioural strategies to improve their child's sleep and follow up on the progress.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sleep hygiene practices and behavioural intervention

Waiting-list control

No Intervention group

Description:

Children in the waiting-list control group will receive usual clinical care.