Relations between caregiver-report of sleep and executive function problems in children with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Amanda Cremone-Caira, Julia Buirkle, Rachel Gilbert and 2 others
PMID 31479914WHAT IT FOUND
In children with autism, higher caregiver-reported sleep problems and greater working memory deficits were each associated with more ADHD symptoms.
Sleep did not explain or strengthen the working memory link.
Key findings
01Higher caregiver-reported total sleep problems and greater caregiver-reported executive function problems each predicted more severe ADHD symptoms in children with ASD.
02Among executive function subscales, working memory deficits accounted for the most variance in ADHD symptoms.
03Sleep problems did not mediate or moderate the link between working memory deficits and ADHD symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study, so it cannot show that sleep problems or working memory deficits cause ADHD symptoms. Sleep and executive function were measured by caregiver report, not by actigraphy or polysomnography, and teacher report was available only for 52 children and only for working memory. The sample was mostly male and excluded children with IQ below 80, so it may not represent females or children with lower IQ. The models may have been underpowered. Caregiver and teacher reports may have been influenced by a negative halo, and working memory items overlapped with ADHD items. Emotional regulation was not assessed, although it may relate to sleep and executive function. ADHD medication use predicted ADHD symptoms in most models, so medication status may affect symptom ratings.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts or competing financial interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating sleep problems will reduce ADHD symptoms in autism. This study measured associations and cannot show causality.