Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and whose
sleep efficiency is poor, experience significant improvement on some
measures of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) if they are treated with
methylphenidate (MPH), reports the August 1 issue of SLEEP.
“Children with low sleep efficiency might improve performance following the
administration of MPH as it increases their arousal level to a moderate
level, which is presumed to facilitate vigilance performance,” wrote Ridha
Joober, MD, and Reut Gruber, PhD, of Douglas Mental Health University
Institute and McGill University in Montreal.
The CPT is a standardized computer-administered test in which single letters
are presented on a computer screen at two different rates: once per second,
once every two seconds, or once every four seconds. Over the course of the
test, the participant is asked to press a button in response to every signal
except the target signal.
The utilized CPT measures for Joober and Gruber’s study included the total
number of omissions (missed targets), total number of commissions (false
hits), reaction time, reaction time variability, reaction time standard
error, risk taking, and signal detectability.
Sleep problems, particularly difficulties in initiating and maintaining
sleep, are common in children diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is most commonly
treated with stimulant medications, such as MPH.
