ADHD and Sleep: A Critical Link in Diagnosis and Treatment
In this video, Dr Sanil Rege, consultant psychiatrist, highlights an often-overlooked factor in ADHD management—sleep disturbances. While ADHD is typically discussed in terms of attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, sleep problems are rarely addressed early in treatment. Yet, they significantly contribute to misdiagnosis, poor medication response, and ongoing functional impairment.
Dr Rege explains how ADHD and sleep disturbances are connected through shared brain circuits and clinical patterns. He outlines four key sleep phenotypes commonly seen in ADHD and explains how each one requires a distinct clinical approach. You’ll gain a practical understanding of how to assess sleep in ADHD, use validated screening tools, and apply targeted interventions—ranging from melatonin and iron supplementation to behavioural strategies and medication adjustment. A real-life clinical example reinforces why sleep management can be the missing link in treatment-resistant ADHD.
This video equips mental health professionals with a clinically grounded understanding of how sleep disturbances intersect with ADHD, highlighting neurobiological mechanisms, diagnostic complexities, and practical management strategies.
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What You Will Learn
- Sleep problems are reported in over 80% of people with ADHD
- Why ADHD and sleep problems form a vicious cycle (the ADHD-sleep loop)
- The 4 key sleep phenotypes in ADHD: delayed sleep phase syndrome, restless legs, sleep apnea, and stimulant-related insomnia
- How ADHD insomnia treatment differs based on the type of sleep problem
- Why ADHD is not just a disorder of attention, but of biological rhythms
- A practical guide for managing sleep in ADHD (sleep assessment, sleep hygiene, behavioural strategies, pharmacological treatments)
- How ADHD circadian rhythm issues impact mood, attention, and arousal
- How improving ADHD symptoms through sleep interventions can dramatically change outcomes
- Clinical example of adults with ADHD and sleep deprivation who improved without changing medications
To further your clinical understanding of the connection between ADHD and sleep, explore our Neuropsychiatry of Sleep course on The Academy, led by Dr Sanil Rege. This course, referenced in the video, provides practical tools and neurobiological insights to help clinicians assess and manage sleep-related contributors to psychiatric presentations.
For a more comprehensive approach to ADHD across the lifespan, the Adult ADHD Clinical Training Program | 6-Course Series, offers in-depth training in diagnostic formulation, pharmacological strategies, and non-pharmacological interventions to optimise treatment outcomes.
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