Abstract
EEG sleep patterns recorded from 6 hyperactive boys taking methylphenidate daily were compared to those of 6 normal boys. For these hyperactive subjects significant increases in latency to both sleep onset and the first REM period were obtained. Other sleep measures were normal. The hypothesis that the therapeutic effects of stimulants upon hyperactive children are independent of any pathological disruption of sleep was supported.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baekeland, F.: The effect of methylphenidate on the sleep cycle in man. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 10, 179 (1966)
Bradley, C.: The behavior of children receiving Benzedrine. Amer. J. Psychiat. 94, 577–585 (1937)
Conners, C. K.: Symposium: Behavior modification by drugs. II. Psychological effects of stimulant drugs in children with minimal brain dysfunction. Pediatrics 49, 702–708 (1972)
Conners, C. K., Eisenberg, L.: The effect of methylphenidate on symptomatology and learning in disturbed children. Amer. J. Psychiat. 120, 458–464 (1963)
Conners, C. K., Rothschild, G., Eisenberg, L., Schwartz, L. S., Robinson, E.: Dextroamphetamine sulphate in children with learning disorders. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 21, 182–190 (1969)
Epstein, L. C., Lasagna, L., Conners, C. K., Rodriguez, A.: Correlation of dextroamphetamine excretion and drug response in hyperkinetic children. J. nerv. ment. Dis. 146, 136–146 (1968)
Knights, R. M., Hinton, G. G.: The effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on the motor skills and behavior of children with learning problems. J. nerv. ment. Dis. 148, 643–653 (1969)
Kornetsky, C., Mirsky, A. F., Kessler, E. K., Dorff, J. E.: The effects of dextroamphetamine on behavior deficits produced by sleep loss. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 127, 46–50 (1959)
Rechtschaffen, A., Kales, A.: Manual of standardized terminology, techniques and scoring system for sleep stages of human subjects. Bethesda, Md.: Neurological Information Network 1968
Rechtschaffen, A., Maron, L.: The effect of amphetamine on the sleep cycle. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 16, 438–445 (1964)
Roffwarg, H., Muzio, I., Dement, W.: Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle. Science 152, 604–619 (1966)
Safer, D., Allen, D., Barr, E.: Depression of growth in hyperactive children on stimulant drugs. New Engl. J. Med. 287, 217–220 (1972)
Schroeder, S., Schroeder, C., Ball, B.: Sleep disturbance in children with visual-motor deficits. Percept. Mot. Skills 34, 695–700 (1972)
Small, A., Hibi, S., Feinberg, I.: Effects of dextroamphetamine sulfate on EEG sleep patterns of hyperactive children. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 25, 369–380 (1971)
Sprague, R. L., Barnes, K. R., Werry, J. S.: Methylphenidate and thioridazine: learning, reaction time, activity, and classroom behavior in disturbed children. Amer. J. Orthopsychiat. 40, 615–628 (1970)
Sykes, D. H., Douglas, V. I., Weiss, G., Minde, K. K.: Attention in hyperactive children and the effect of methylphenidate (Ritalin). J. Ch. Psychol. Psychiat. Allied Disciplines 12, 129–139 (1971)
Williams, H., Lubin, A., Goodnow, J.: Impaired performance with acute sleep loss. Psychol. Monogr. 73, No. 14 (1959)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by MCHS Project 916 and a grant from the Medical Research Council of the University of North Carolina under USPHS General Research Support Grant Award 5 S01-FR-05416.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haig, J.R., Schroeder, C.S. & Schroeder, S.R. Effects of methylphenidate on hyperactive children's sleep. Psychopharmacologia 37, 185–188 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437425
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437425