Effects and clinical feasibility of a behavioral treatment for sleep problems in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a pragmatic within-group pilot evaluation
Jernelöv S, Larsson Y, Llenas M, Nasri B, Kaldo V.
BMC Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 24;19(1):226.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-019-2216-2.
Commentary* by Dr. Margaret Weiss: This is the first sleep hygiene program targeted for the unique difficulties of adults with ADHD. The majority of adults with ADHD have significantly impairing sleep problems, some of which require specific adaptations and education such as delayed sleep phase and issues with stimulants and sleep. This initiative addresses an important clinical need.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia, are common in adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Treatment of choice for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-i), but evidence is lacking for CBT-i in patients with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to investigate if patients with insomnia and other sleep problems, at a specialist clinic for ADHD, benefit from a group delivered behavioral treatment based on CBT-i; whether insomnia severity improves following this treatment.
METHODS:
This pragmatic within-group pilot study with a pre to post and three-month follow-up design was set at a specialist psychiatric out-patient clinic for adult ADHD. As an adjunct to care-as-usual at the clinic, a CBT-i-based group treatment targeting several sleep problems prevalent in the ADHD-population, was offered as 10 weekly 90-min group sessions and scheduled telephone support. All outcome measures were subjectively reported by participants. Data analyzed with dependent t-tests according to intent-to-treat.
RESULTS:
Nineteen patients (37 [SD 13.7] years; 68% female) with ADHD and subjectively reported sleep problems provided informed consent and pre-treatment measures. Patients had suffered from sleep problems for 15.3 [SD 13.4] years, 42% used sleep medications, 79% used stimulant medication(s). At post-treatment, insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index; score range 0-28) had improved with 4.5 points (95% CI, 2.06-6.99, p = .002), at 3 months with 6.8 points (95% CI, 4.71-8.91, p < .0001) from pre-treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
CBT-i adjusted for ADHD is promising for improving insomnia severity in adult patients at specialist psychiatric out-patient clinics, who suffer from ADHD and sleep disturbances.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study registered with the Regional ethical review board in Stockholm, January 13th 2016, Study id: 2015/2078-31/1. Study registered retrospectively with Clinicaltrials.org, February 21st 2019, ID: NCT03852966.
* Les résumés scientifiques (abstracts) sont sélectionnés pour leur pertinence clinique par Dre. Margaret Weiss, Directrice de la recherche clinique, pédopsychiatrie, Cambridge Health Alliance, Université Harvard. Ses commentaires reflètent sa propre opinion. Ils ne sont ni approuvés par la CADDRA, ni nécessairement représentatifs de celle-ci.