Comorbidity of ADHD and Anxiety Disorders in School-Age Children: Impact on Sleep and Response to a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment

This exploratory study measured the impact of comorbid anxiety disorders on sleep in children with ADHD and tested the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on these measures. Fifty-seven children (8-12 years old) were assessed with the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Four groups were formed: ADHD ( n = 20), ADHD + Anxiety ( n = 20), Anxiety ( n = 8), and Healthy Controls ( n = 9). A subgroup of 10 children with ADHD + Anxiety underwent CBT for anxiety. The results showed that sleep difficulties were better associated with anxiety than with ADHD. CBT reduced sleep onset latency and marginally decreased the total amount of sleep problems. The present study demonstrates that comorbid anxiety in ADHD children is linked with specific sleep disturbances and is sensitive to CBT aimed at reducing anxiety.