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Parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD symptoms in a sample of obese adolescents

Parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD symptoms in a sample of obese adolescents
Parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD symptoms in a sample of obese adolescents
Objective: recent evidence suggests an association between obesity and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or ADHD traits. The characteristics of obese subjects with a higher probability of ADHD symptoms are still unclear. We explore the hypothesis that obese adolescents with sleep/alertness problems represent a subgroup at high risk for ADHD traits, independently from associated symptoms of anxiety/depression. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD traits in a clinical sample of obese adolescents, controlling for symptoms of anxiety/depression.

Methods: seventy obese subjects (age range, 10–16 years) were included. The parents filled out the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), the Conners Parents Rating Scale-Revised (Short Version) (CPRS-R:S), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) was completed by a child psychiatrist.

Results: using multiple regression models controlling for symptoms of anxiety/depression, scores of excessive daytime sleepiness on the SDSC were significantly associated with ADHD traits on the CPRS-R:S as well as on the ADHD-RS.

Conclusions: obese adolescents described as excessively sleepy by their parents may be at higher risk of ADHD symptoms, independently from symptoms of anxiety/depression. Although the clinician may overlook a potential diagnosis of ADHD in obese adolescents described as sleepy, the results of this study suggest to systematically look for symptoms of ADHD in this subgroup of obese patients. Further studies using objective methods to assess sleep/alertness disturbances are needed to gain insight into the relationship between sleep/alertness disturbances and ADHD in obese individuals
sleep, alertness, sleepiness, adhd, obesity, adolescents
0022-3999
587-590
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Maffeis, Claudio
58844f2c-150c-4cc3-83fb-97bf9b29cd09
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Comencini, Erica
c4191542-13de-453a-828c-e26a23d9f9f1
Angriman, Marco
3520e752-d35c-461f-80f4-b31203319cef
Vincenzi, Brenda
6cf59f67-ef21-439e-9d01-8a551b4721cb
Pajno-Ferrara, Franco
aba00c7e-622c-4c42-b2f5-c10ddbd21fc1
Mouren, Marie-Christine
9c60d8ab-fe73-4121-91a8-4522492cd6d5
Dalla Bernardina, Bernardo
7227bef3-69ce-447b-9cb4-b18e206af753
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Maffeis, Claudio
58844f2c-150c-4cc3-83fb-97bf9b29cd09
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Comencini, Erica
c4191542-13de-453a-828c-e26a23d9f9f1
Angriman, Marco
3520e752-d35c-461f-80f4-b31203319cef
Vincenzi, Brenda
6cf59f67-ef21-439e-9d01-8a551b4721cb
Pajno-Ferrara, Franco
aba00c7e-622c-4c42-b2f5-c10ddbd21fc1
Mouren, Marie-Christine
9c60d8ab-fe73-4121-91a8-4522492cd6d5
Dalla Bernardina, Bernardo
7227bef3-69ce-447b-9cb4-b18e206af753

Cortese, Samuele, Maffeis, Claudio, Konofal, Eric, Lecendreux, Michel, Comencini, Erica, Angriman, Marco, Vincenzi, Brenda, Pajno-Ferrara, Franco, Mouren, Marie-Christine and Dalla Bernardina, Bernardo (2007) Parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD symptoms in a sample of obese adolescents. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 63 (6), 587-590. (doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.08.005). (PMID:18061748)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: recent evidence suggests an association between obesity and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or ADHD traits. The characteristics of obese subjects with a higher probability of ADHD symptoms are still unclear. We explore the hypothesis that obese adolescents with sleep/alertness problems represent a subgroup at high risk for ADHD traits, independently from associated symptoms of anxiety/depression. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between parent reports of sleep/alertness problems and ADHD traits in a clinical sample of obese adolescents, controlling for symptoms of anxiety/depression.

Methods: seventy obese subjects (age range, 10–16 years) were included. The parents filled out the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), the Conners Parents Rating Scale-Revised (Short Version) (CPRS-R:S), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) was completed by a child psychiatrist.

Results: using multiple regression models controlling for symptoms of anxiety/depression, scores of excessive daytime sleepiness on the SDSC were significantly associated with ADHD traits on the CPRS-R:S as well as on the ADHD-RS.

Conclusions: obese adolescents described as excessively sleepy by their parents may be at higher risk of ADHD symptoms, independently from symptoms of anxiety/depression. Although the clinician may overlook a potential diagnosis of ADHD in obese adolescents described as sleepy, the results of this study suggest to systematically look for symptoms of ADHD in this subgroup of obese patients. Further studies using objective methods to assess sleep/alertness disturbances are needed to gain insight into the relationship between sleep/alertness disturbances and ADHD in obese individuals

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More information

Published date: December 2007
Keywords: sleep, alertness, sleepiness, adhd, obesity, adolescents
Organisations: Clinical Neuroscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 380460
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380460
ISSN: 0022-3999
PURE UUID: 6e32a7f7-3441-46f1-9604-74064e6d9a34
ORCID for Samuele Cortese: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-8075

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Date deposited: 10 Sep 2015 12:04
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:52

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Contributors

Author: Samuele Cortese ORCID iD
Author: Claudio Maffeis
Author: Eric Konofal
Author: Michel Lecendreux
Author: Erica Comencini
Author: Marco Angriman
Author: Brenda Vincenzi
Author: Franco Pajno-Ferrara
Author: Marie-Christine Mouren
Author: Bernardo Dalla Bernardina

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