Melatonin in ADHD and Sleep Problems (MELAS)

Melatonin - Production and Release in Children and Adolescents With ADHD and Chronic Sleep Problems and Effects of Melatonin on Sleep

Treatment with melatonin is often initiated on an insufficient basis as it has not been established prior to starting the treatment whether or not the child had delayed release of endogenous melatonin. At the clinic, it has furthermore been observed that the length of time a child experiences an effect of melatonin treatment varies substantially. In a clinical context, treatment with melatonin is used increasingly (www.Medstat.dk). However, there is no tradition in Denmark for measuring the endogenous melatonin level before initiating such treatment. Hence there is no way of knowing to what extent the sleep problems were indeed caused by delayed melatonin release. There seem to be no studies on the difference in the effect of melatonin treatment of children and adolescents depending on whether or not they have delayed DLMO. Likewise, there are no studies including adolescents. As can be seen, it is important to gain more knowledge about the normal release of melatonin, and the release of melatonin in a group of children and adolescents with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. It is also essential to investigate whether there are any differences in the release of melatonin in children and adolescents with chronic sleep onset problem and children and adolescents who do not have sleep problems.

Children age 6 to 12 years having ADHD and Sleeping problem will be treated with Melatonin 3 mg one a day (before bedtime)

A Scale Score measuring ADHD symptoms on a 4 point Likert Scale (0-3) . 18 Question with a Total max score of 54, Total minimum Score is 0 . Higher score is more symptoms.

Evaluation on different Quality of Life (QoL) scores. 50 Question Measuring QoL in School, Family setting and Social activities on a 4 Point Likert Scale (0-3) with af total max score om 150 (minimum 0) - A higher score is more difficulties and lower Quality of Life

On a 4 point Likert scale (1-4) the instrument asses the impact on Child and Family Self-Esteem and Quality of Life . Total max is 40 points and indicates low QoL and Minimum score is 10 and indicate Normal functioning and High QoL

Registration of 17 known possible Side Effekts on a Likert Scale 0-9 point each, With a total score of 153 points which indicate many and serious Side effect and a minimum of 0 , which indicate Zero side effects

Inclusion Criteria: Children aged 6-13 years referred to the child and adolescent psychiatric department for examination/treatment for ADHD Verified Cronical Sleep Problems Measured Dim Light Melatonin Onset Exclusion Criteria: IQ below 70 Autism Disorder Actual or former treated with Melatonin Allergy to melatonin