Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between circadian characteristics and behavioral problems in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=53), and to compare this group with healthy controls (n=38). METHOD: Fifty-three medication-free children with ADHD, aged 6-12 years, and 38 healthy children, age and sex matched, participated. Parents completed the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised, the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ), and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to assess sleep variables. RESULTS: ADHD children had more sleep-onset problems and parasomnias (in CSHQ) compared to healthy controls. However, circadian preferences did not differ between the groups in CCTQ scores. Another important finding was a mild correlation between parasomnia, bedtime on schooldays, and ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that children with ADHD showed more resistance to going to bed than did controls on school days. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, morningness/eveningness preference did not differ from controls in ADHD children.