Effect of methylphenidate on sleep architecture in children aged 6-8 and 10-12 years with attention deficit hyperactvity disorder: polysomnographic investigation

Findings of polysomnographic studies investigating effects of methylphenidate on sleep architecture in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) haven?t yet gained clarityThe aim of our study was to investigate the effects of six month long-acting methylphenidate (concerta) treatment on sleep architecture by means of objective (polysomnography) and subjective (sleep questionnaire) methods in two different age groups of children with ADHD which one of was 6-8 and the other 10-12 years oldTwenty one boys were included in the study group who were first diagnosed as ADHD without comorbidity. Full night polysomnography and sleep questionnaires (Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Epworth sleepiness scale) before taking methylphenidate medication and after taking six month methlphenidate medication were applied to study groupsBased on polysomnography and sleep questionnaires, there was not found statistically significant difference between data obtained before and after methylphenidate medication, for the two age groups.Nevertheless, when polysomnographic records were analyzed, significant decrease for sleep stage 1 was found before and after methlyphenidate medication in 6-8 age group and, a significant increase for duration of REM sleep was found before and after methlyphenidate medication in 10-12 age group. Additionally, there was not found significant difference when the results of sleep questionnaires were compared in terms of methylphenidate medicationIn conclusion, there was not found significant effect of methylphenidate medication on sleep architecture in comparison of the two age groups. When compared before and after methylphenidate medication, the findings of decrease for sleep stage 1 for 6-8 age group and increase for duration of REM sleep for 10-12 age group showed that positive effects of methylphenidate medication on sleep architecture in children with ADHD.Key Words: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Children, Polysomnography, Methylphenidate Medication, Sleep Architecture