The effect of behavioral parent training on sleep problems of school-age children with ADHD: A parallel randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effect of behavioral parental training (BPT) on sleep problems in children diagnosed with ADHD. Methods This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in a psychiatric clinic in an urban area of Iran. Participants of this study were 58 school-age children who were diagnosed with ADHD, were receiving methylphenidate and had at least one problem in sleeping. They were randomly assigned into BPT or control groups. Participants' parents in the BPT group underwent a 5-week behavioral intervention program. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent sample t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA test via the SPSS software. Results Children in the intervention group experienced a significant improvement in total sleep scores two months after the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.03). Also, the findings showed a significant decline in total sleep problems in the intervention group compared to the control group over time (p = 0.01). Conclusion The results suggest that BPT could be an effective method in improving sleep problems of school-age children diagnosed with ADHD undergoing methylphenidate treatment.