Introduction

. Sleep problems are frequent in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but often underestimated in clinical settings.

Objective

. To describe the main characteristics of sleep habits in an ADHD outpatient population using the Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire-Abbreviated (CSHQ-A) to compare ADHD groups according to the presence of comorbidity and the presence of current treatment, and to determine sleep profiles by using latent class analysis (LCA).

Method

. A sample of 228 ADHD patients (Mage = 11.5 years old, (IR = 9 - 15) were enrolled. ADHD comorbidities and treatments were registered. Parents/caregivers filled out the questionnaire. Participants groups were compared, and LCA was used to classify profiles of similar sleep patterns.

Results

. The ADHD group with treatment had a higher score in the CSHQ-A than the group without treatment. Four classes emerge: Class 1 only children, males, half with comorbid ADHD, many with treatment, and with many sleep problems (CSHQ-A mean: 25.98). Class 2: mostly adolescents, female, with comorbid anxiety disorder, and who did not show sleep problems (CSHQ-A mean: 12.78). Class 3: only adolescents, males, comorbid with major depressive disorder and CSHQ-A who showed many sleep problems. Class 4: only children, males, the majority with treatment, with some sleep problems.

Discussion and conclusion

. In this ADHD sample, patients with psychopharmacological treatment have a greater report of sleep problems by the CSHQ-A compared to those who do not receive treatment.