A Brief Parent-based Sleep Intervention for ADHD Children

The University of Hong Kong60 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

ADHD Insomnia

Interventions

The first session will involve the provision of sleep-related psycho-education (e.g. sleep hygiene practices) and specific strategies to tackle problematic sleep-related behaviours, as well as collaborative goal setting and development of management plan tailored to the child's sleep problem for the next two weeks. The second session will involve a review of the sleep diary and a reinforcement of learned strategies, and focus on problem-solving to tackle any issues that have emerged from implementing the behavioural strategies at home. A follow-up phone call will be made two weeks later to provide parents with an opportunity to ask any further questions and to consolidate learned strategies and further troubleshoot.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 12 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Locations (2)

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Service Clinic, New Territories East Cluster (NTEC), Hospital Authority

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Sleep Research Clinic & Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Child: Change of child's sleep

Change of the child's sleep measured by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and sleep problems rated by parent (none, mild, moderate, severe)