0476 Readiness and Stages of Change in a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinical Sample: From Pre-Contemplation to Struggling to Maintain Change

Introduction

Stages of change in the transtheoretical model are used to assess a patient’s readiness to change, which may help providers tailor behavioral treatment (BT). As research has focused on substance abuse, there is a significant lack of data in individuals presenting for behavioral sleep medicine (BSM) treatment.

Methods

146 consecutive patients (46.1±16.0 years, 61.6% female, 19.9% minority) who were evaluated at the BSM program of Penn State Hershey Sleep Research & Treatment Center completed the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) assessing readiness to change (RtC) and pre-contemplation (P), contemplation (C), preparation/action (A) and struggling to maintain (M) stages of change. Subjects also completed the Insomnia Treatment Acceptability Scale (ITAS) and Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS).

Results

The average RtC score was 9.4, with 21.9% of the sample in stage P, 56.2% in C and 21.9% in A. The average P (53.2±7.6), C (49.1±10.1), A (48.8±12.3) and M (37.7±9.1) scores suggested an overall “contemplation cluster profile”. Higher RtC (r=0.37), C (r=0.31) and A (r=0.24) scores were associated with greater acceptability of BT, while higher P scores were associated with lower acceptability of BT (r=-0.22). In contrast, higher M scores were associated with greater acceptability of pharmacological treatment (r=0.21) as well as higher DBAS scores, including sleep medication expectations (r=0.23).

Conclusion

Patients attending a BSM program typically present at a contemplation stage, which indicates intention to start changing sleep behaviors within the next few months with some ambivalence in regards to pros/cons of such change. A significant proportion of patients struggle to maintain change and present with higher acceptability for pharmacological interventions, which may hinder the effectiveness of BT and may require specific therapeutic approaches.

Support

Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine

0919 Health Disparities in the Persistence of Childhood Insomnia Symptoms in the Transition to Adolescence: The Penn State Child Cohort

Introduction

A strong body of cross-sectional evidence indicates that social determinants of health (SDH), such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sex/gender, are linked to sleep problems, including insomnia symptoms. Few studies have examined the longitudinal association between SDH and the persistence and remission of insomnia symptoms in the transition between childhood and adolescence, a critical period for sleep health.

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a random, population-based sample of 700 children (5-12y at baseline), of whom 421 were followed up as adolescents (12-23y at follow-up). All subjects underwent polysomnography, clinical history, physical exam, and parent- and self-reported scales at baseline and follow-up. Childhood insomnia symptoms were defined as a parent- and/or self-report of difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. All subjects or their parents identified the subject’s sex, race, and ethnicity, and reported on socioeconomic status (SES) of the household.

Results

Females (32.7%) and racial/ethnic minorities (25.0%) were associated with a significantly lower remission rate as compared to males (53.3%) and non-Hispanic whites (48.3%), respectively. Non-Hispanic whites of low SES were associated with a significantly lower full remission rate (26.3%) as compared to non-Hispanic whites of higher SES (42.0%), while racial/ethnic minorities were associated with the lowest full remission rates regardless of whether they were of low (9.1%) or higher (11.1%) SES.

Conclusion

Our novel data indicate that gender-, racial/ethnic- and socioeconomic-related disparities in insomnia not only occur as early as childhood but are important determinants of insomnia’s chronic course throughout development.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0936 Cardiometabolic Disorders are Independently Associated with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Young Adults

Introduction

Cardiometabolic risk factors (CMR), including obesity, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, have been associated with sleep apnea and insufficient sleep, both of which can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). We hypothesized that CMR are associated with EDS in young adults independent of sleep apnea, sleep duration and mental health disorders (MHD).

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a population-based longitudinal sample of 700 children (8.7±1.7y), of whom 421 were followed-up 8.3 years later during adolescence (17.0±2.3y) and 425 another 7.0 years later during young adulthood (24.4±2.6y). Subjects underwent a 9-h in-lab polysomnography in childhood and adolescence and parent- or self-reported standardized surveys at all time points. Self-reports in young adulthood and in-lab measurements in childhood were used to ascertain CMR and sleep apnea. Parent-reports in childhood and self-reports in young adulthood were used to ascertain the presence of MHD and EDS. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, race, sex, snoring/observed apneas, insomnia symptoms, and sleep duration in young adulthood as well as mean arterial blood pressure, body mass index percentile and apnea/hypopnea index in childhood.

Results

CMR (OR=2.71, 95%CI=1.69-4.36) and MHD (OR=4.61, 95%CI=2.79-7.62) were associated with EDS in univariate models. After adjusting for covariates in childhood and young adulthood, CMR and MHD remained independently associated with EDS (OR=2.32, 95%CI=1.29-4.16 and OR=2.78, 95%CI=1.59-4.87, respectively).

Conclusion

EDS in young adults with CMR or MHD does not solely arise from sleep apnea, insufficient sleep or other sleep disturbances. EDS may be the result of central pathophysiologic mechanisms or the functional impairment associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health disorders. These data further support that youth with these disorders should be screened for EDS and appropriately managed.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0920 Behavioral Profiles Associated with the Development of Insomnia Symptoms in Children with Known Mental Health Disorders

Introduction

Mental health disorders (MHD) are a known risk factor for the development of insomnia symptoms in youth. However, a number of children with MHD do not go on to develop insomnia symptoms later on in life. Little is known about possible childhood factors that exacerbate or mitigate the risk of developing adolescent insomnia symptoms (AIS) among children with MHD. The present study examined, in an at-risk group of children with MHD, the behavioral profiles associated with the development of AIS.

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a random, population-based sample of 700 children (5-12y), of whom 421 were followed up as adolescents (12-23y). Absence of childhood insomnia symptoms was ascertained by parent-reports (n=312), while presence of AIS in this subgroup was ascertained by self-reports (n=97). Presence of MHD was ascertained based on the clinical history and physical exam at baseline (n=52). The Pediatric Behavior Scale (PBS) assessed multiple parent-reported behavioral domains.

Results

Children with MHD at baseline had greater levels of difficulty across a variety of internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalizing (e.g., impulsivity, hyperactivity) behavioral domains than those without MHD, regardless of whether they developed AIS. However, children with MHD who went on to develop AIS had significantly greater levels of aggressive (p<0.001) and oppositional (p=0.006) behaviors relative to children with MHD who did not develop AIS. In fact, these latter children did not differ from peers without any history of MHD or AIS on levels of aggressive (p=0.820) or oppositional (p=0.436) behaviors.

Conclusion

Children with MHD who present with normative aggressive and oppositional behaviors are less likely to develop AIS. Healthcare providers should consider providing preventative sleep interventions to youth with MHD who are exhibiting comorbid externalizing behaviors.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0319 Sleep Architecture and Neurocognitive and Behavioral Functioning in Youth from the General Population

Introduction

The transition from childhood to adolescence is critical for the onset of psychopathology and reflects significant changes in the sleeping brain. Sleep deprivation studies have shown that rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep are differentially involved in specific cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to examine the association of sleep architecture with neurobehavioral outcomes in a population-based sample.

Methods

We studied 700 children (5-12y, 47.1% female, 23.7% minority) and 421 adolescents (12-23y, 46.1% female, 21.8% minority) from the Penn State Child Cohort. All subjects underwent a 9-hour polysomnography and a 4-hour neurobehavioral evaluation. Neurocognitive outcomes included the Stroop test, digit span backwards (DSB), and coding to measure high- and low-order cognitive functions. Behavioral outcomes included the Child/Adult Behavior Checklist to measure internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors. Correlation analysis examined the cross-sectional association between sleep architecture and neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes.

Results

In childhood, %REM sleep was negatively associated with DSB scores (r=-0.088, p=0.027), particularly in males (r=-0.167, p=0.002). Furthermore, %NREM sleep was positively associated with DSB scores in males (r=0.126, p=0.021). In adolescent females, %NREM and %REM sleep were positively (r=0.146, p=0.044) and negatively (r=-0.158, p=0.029) associated with DSB scores, respectively. In adolescence, %NREM sleep was negatively associated with internalizing symptoms (r=-0.109, p=0.026).

Conclusion

Male children and female adolescents who spent a higher proportion of the night in NREM sleep had better working memory performance. Adolescent females who spent a lower proportion of the night in NREM sleep had greater internalizing symptoms. This study suggests a role for sleep architecture in neurobehavioral deficits in youth. Future studies are necessary to determine the contributions of low- and high-frequency sleep EEG dynamics to these clinical outcomes.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01MH118308, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0458 Smoking and Caffeine Consumption Differ Between Insomnia Phenotypes Based on Objective Sleep Duration

Introduction

The insomnia with short sleep phenotype (ISS), in contrast to the normal sleep phenotype (INS), is characterized by physiological hyperarousal including activation of the stress system and cardiometabolic morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess whether these two insomnia phenotypes differ in terms of the use of two common stimulants (i.e., caffeine and nicotine).

Methods

Data from the Penn State Adult Cohort (N=1741) was used in this study (52.2% women, 48.8±13.6 years). A 1-night, 8-hour, polysomnography (PSG) was used to classify subjects into normal (≥6h) and short (<6h) sleep duration groups. Self-reported sleep difficulty was defined based on three levels of severity as normal sleep (n=1022), poor sleep (n=520) and insomnia (n=199). Self-reported heavy caffeine use was defined as ≥3 cups daily and heavy smoking as ≥20 cigarettes daily. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted adjusting for covariates such as age, gender, and race.

Results

Compared to normal sleepers, ISS (OR=0.55, 95% CI=0.31-0.97, p=0.04), but not INS (OR=0.92, 95% CI=0.52-1.64, p=0.77), was associated with significantly less heavy caffeine use. In contrast, INS (OR=2.20, 95% CI=1.10-4.40, p=0.03), but not ISS (OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.41-2.17, p=0.90), was associated with significantly more heavy smoking.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the use of common stimulants (i.e., smoking cigarettes and drinking caffeine) is higher in the INS phenotype than the ISS phenotype. Individuals with the ISS phenotype may be using less caffeine and tobacco to avoid further stimulation of the already hyperaroused physiologic system, which may result in worsening of their insomnia. In the INS phenotype, changes in health behaviors should be an important part of a multidimensional approach to treatment.

Support

American Heart Association (14SDG19830018), National Institutes of Health (R01HL51931, R01HL40916)

0457 Insomnia and Cause-Specific Mortality in Men and Women

Introduction

The association of insomnia with an increased risk of mortality has remained inconsistent across studies, which contrasts with accumulating evidence linking this prevalent and chronic sleep disorder with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, oncologic, and psychiatric morbidity. The higher prevalence of insomnia in women compared to men may be an important contributor to the different survival rates reported in large, population-based studies.

Methods

The Penn State Adult Cohort is a random, general population sample of 1,741 adults (48.8±13.6y, 52.2% women) who were studied in the sleep laboratory and followed-up for their cause of death up to December 31, 2018. Insomnia was defined as a chronic complaint lasting at least 1 year (n=199). We assessed the risk of all-cause mortality (n=664) and the two most common causes of death: cardiovascular/cerebrovascular (n=275) and cancer (n=161). Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, race, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, BMI, AHI, cognitive impairment, mental health problems and physical health problems, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer at baseline.

Results

The risk of all-cause mortality associated with insomnia was significantly increased in men (HR=1.84, 95%CI=1.18-2.87) but not in women (HR=0.80, 95%CI=0.57-1.13; p for sex-interaction<0.01). Insomnia was significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular mortality in men (HR=2.11, 95%CI=1.14-3.99), but not in women (HR=0.98, 95%CI=0.59-1.63; p for sex-interaction=0.06). Insomnia was not significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality either in men (HR=1.41, 95% CI=0.56-3.56) or in women (HR=0.90, 95% CI=0.45-1.80), after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer at baseline.

Conclusion

Men with chronic insomnia are at an increased risk of mortality, particularly that of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular origin. There is a need for translational studies focused on sex-differences that can disentangle the biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying women’s resilience.

Support

American Heart Association (14SDG19830018), National Institutes of Health (R01HL51931, R01HL40916)

0878 Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Internalizing Symptoms vs. Externalizing Behaviors in Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Introduction

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children has been associated with insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and abnormal periodic limb movements (PLMS). However, there is lack of data examining the contribution of OSA to ADHD-related internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors in adolescents.

Methods

We studied the Penn State Child Cohort, a random general population sample of 700 children (8.7±1.7y), of whom 421 were followed-up 8.3 years later during adolescence (17.0±2.3y, 53.9% male). All adolescents underwent a 9-hour PSG, clinical history and physical examination. ADHD was ascertained by a parent- or self-report of having been diagnosed with ADHD. OSA was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥2 events per hour of sleep, while a periodic limb movement index (PLMI) ≥5 events per hour of sleep was indicative of PLMS. Controls, OSA-alone, ADHD-alone and ADHD+OSA were identified. The Child or Adult Behavior Checklist were used to ascertain internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Multivariable-adjusted models controlled for sex, race, age, and body mass index (BMI) percentile.

Results

As compared to controls, adolescents with ADHD-alone or ADHD+OSA had significantly greater externalizing behaviors (p<0.001), inattention (p<0.001) and thought problems (p<0.001). While adolescents with ADHD-alone had higher internalizing symptoms (p=0.021), specifically withdrawn-depression (p<0.01), adolescents with ADHD+OSA had more somatic problems than controls (p=0.048). There were no statistically significant differences in behavioral outcomes between controls and adolescents with OSA-alone or between adolescents with ADHD-alone and ADHD+OSA.

Conclusion

Adolescents with comorbid ADHD and OSA do not present with worse behavioral outcomes than those with ADHD alone. Future studies should examine whether the progression of these adolescents into young adulthood differs in terms of their behavioral outcomes and development of mental health disorders.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0890 Sleep Disordered Breathing is Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis in Young Adults: Preliminary Longitudinal Findings in the Penn State Child Cohort

Introduction

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in middle-age is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, population-based studies supporting its cardiovascular contribution at earlier stages of development are lacking, particularly with long-term follow-ups.

Methods

The Penn State Child Cohort is a population-based longitudinal sample of 700 children (8.7±1.7y), of whom 421 were followed-up 8.3 years later during adolescence (17.0±2.3y) with in-lab polysomnography (PSG). To date, 425 have been followed-up another 7.4 years later during young adulthood (24.4±2.6y) via a standardized survey and 136 of them (55.1% female, 21.3% racial/ethnic minority) have undergone a repeat of their PSG to ascertain apnea/hypopnea index. Subjects (n=121) also underwent Doppler ultrasounds to assess flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Linear regression models stratified by body mass index in young adulthood.

Results

SDB was cross-sectionally associated with lower FMD (β=-0.239, p=0.008) and greater CIMT (β=0.330, p<0.001) in young adulthood. Longitudinally, childhood (n=121) and adolescence (n=90) SDB were significantly associated with CIMT (β=0.327, p<0.001 and β=0.286, p=0.006, respectively), but not with FMD (β=-0.158, p=0.08 and β=-0.101, p=0.35, respectively). These associations, particularly longitudinal ones between childhood and adolescence SDB with CIMT in young adulthood, were stronger in overweight than normal weight subjects (e.g., β=0.310, p=0.030 and β =0.089, p=0.582, respectively).

Conclusion

SDB and obesity appear to be synergistically associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in young adults from the general population. These data suggest that a childhood exposure to chronic SDB is associated with long-term atherosclerosis, while endothelial dysfunction may be a short-term outcome. This ongoing 16-year longitudinal study will test whether the natural history of SDB from childhood through adolescence into young adulthood shows differential trajectories for cardiovascular morbidity.

Support

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127)

0742 Hypersomnia Severity Index: Reliability and Validity in a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinical Sample

Introduction

There is a need for patient-reported outcome measures of central disorders of hypersomnolence (CDH) that adequately assess both essential features and associated daytime impact. The Hypersomnia Severity Index (HSI) was designed to assess severity, distress and impairment of hypersomnolence in persons with psychiatric disorders. Little data is available regarding its psychometric properties in clinical samples with diverse sleep disorders, including CDH.

Methods

158 consecutive patients (44.11±16.38 years old, 70.9% female, 19.6% minority) who were evaluated at the Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) program of Penn State Hershey Sleep Research & Treatment Center completed the HSI and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). All patients were diagnosed using ICSD-3 criteria, with 10 % receiving a diagnosis of CDH, 54% of insomnia disorder (ID) and 36% of other sleep disorders (oSD).

Results

The HSI showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.79) and item-total correlations (r=0.42-0.67), except for item 1 (r=0.17). Principal component analysis provided a 2-factor structure (HSI-Symptoms and HSI-Impact) explaining 56.20% of the variance. Convergent validity with ESS was optimal (r=0.65) but greater for HSI-Symptoms (r=0.69) than HSI-Impact (r=0.39). Criterion validity showed significantly higher scores in subjects with CDH (22.63±7.57) and significantly lower scores in subjects with ID (16.96±5.96) as compared to those with oSD (18.65±6.65); however, these divergent scores were primarily driven by the HSI-Symptoms score (p<0.01) rather than the HSI-Impact score (p>0.12).

Conclusion

The HSI shows satisfactory indices of reliability and validity in a clinically-diverse sleep disorders sample. Its criterion validity is supported by its divergent association with insomnia vs. hypersomnia disorders. Future studies should examine cut-off score for the HSI to reliably identify CDH and test its sensitivity to treatment effects.

Support

Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine

Childhood obesity, weight loss and developmental trajectories predict the persistence and remission of childhood sleep-disordered breathing

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for childhood sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), yet it remains unclear how obesity and weight change predict the course of childhood SDB.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to investigate the role of body weight, upper airway abnormalities and developmental trajectories on the persistence and remission of childhood SDB in the transition to adolescence.

METHODS

The Penn State Child Cohort is a representative population sample of 700 children (5-12 years), of whom 421 were followed up as adolescents (12-23 years). Participants underwent a clinical history, physical examination and polysomnography at both time points.

RESULTS

Obesity and enlarged tonsils were cross-sectionally associated with childhood SDB. Longitudinally, baseline obesity predicted the persistence of childhood SDB (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 2.00-7.05), while weight loss predicted its remission (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.11-2.50). Children with enlarged tonsils who remitted from SDB had not experienced significant weight loss and only 4.4% had undergone adeno/tonsillectomy. Body fat distribution/composition at follow-up was similar in those who had remitted from childhood SDB as compared with those who had never experienced SDB, while those who persisted with childhood SDB showed significant android distribution and visceral adiposity at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support a causal role for obesity and weight loss in the chronicity and remission, respectively, of childhood SDB in the transition to adolescence and suggest that remission of SDB is related to developmental trajectories of the upper airway in a significant proportion of children. Thus, targeting childhood obesity and weight gain should be a priority in the prevention and treatment of SDB during this critical developmental period.

Stability of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder Symptoms (Irritable-Angry Mood and Temper Outbursts) Throughout Childhood and Adolescence in a General Population Sample

DSM-5 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a controversial new diagnosis. The DSM-5 conceptualizes DMDD as persistent and chronic, but the stability of the two DMDD symptoms (irritable-angry mood and temper outbursts) over time is not known. Mothers rated DMDD symptoms in a population-based sample of 376 children (54 % male) evaluated at 6-12 years (M 9) and again an average of 8 years later (M 16). Mean scores on irritable-angry mood plus temper outbursts at baseline and follow-up were below sometimes a problem, but were higher at baseline than follow-up. Irritable-angry mood and temper outbursts were both often or very often a problem for 9 % of children at baseline, 6 % at follow-up, and 3 % at baseline and follow-up. Only 29 % of children whose baseline symptoms were often or very often continued to have follow-up symptoms at this level (remission rate 71 %). Less than half (45 %) of the children whose symptoms were often or very often at follow-up had these symptoms 8 years earlier (55 % new cases). Our finding of 71 % remission and 55 % new cases indicates instability of DMDD symptoms over an 8-year period. However, the finding that 29 % still had symptoms often or very often 8 years later is clinically significant. DMDD symptoms were found in only one child who did not have symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, ADHD, anxiety, or depression. This suggests that DMDD symptoms are a feature of multiple disorders, particularly ODD, and do not occur in isolation, questioning the validity of DMDD as a unique and independent diagnosis.

The relative association of obstructive sleep apnea, obesity and excessive daytime sleepiness with incident depression: a longitudinal, population-based study

Background

It is postulated that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for the development of depression. However, obesity and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are associated with both OSA and depression. The goal of this study was to examine the relative contribution of OSA, obesity, and EDS to incident depression.

Methods

A representative random sample of 1,137 adults without depression from the Penn State Adult Cohort was followed-up after 7.5 years. All subjects underwent a full medical examination and polysomnography (PSG) at baseline. OSA was defined as an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5, overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m², obesity as a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², and EDS as moderate-to-severe drowsiness/sleepiness and/or irresistible sleep attacks.

Results

Overweight, obesity, and EDS were associated with incident depression, whereas OSA alone was not. Overweight was associated with incident depression in women, while obesity and EDS were associated with incident depression in both genders. The association of overweight and obesity with incident depression was independent of premorbid emotional distress, while that of EDS was not. The association between BMI and EDS with incident depression was stronger in women 20-40 years old. The severity of EDS predicted incident depression in those with OSA, while AHI or oxygen desaturation did not.

Conclusions

Overweight, obesity and EDS are the main predictors of incident depression. Obesity may be linked to depression through psychobiological mechanisms, while EDS may be an early sign of depression. Obesity should be a target of our preventative strategies for depression.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in a general population sample: the role of sleep apnea, age, obesity, diabetes, and depression

CONTEXT

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is commonly considered a cardinal sign of sleep apnea; however, the mechanism underlying the association is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the complaint of EDS and sleep apnea, considering a wide range of possible risk factors in a population sample.

DESIGN AND SETTING

We examined this question in the Penn State cohort (a random sample of 16,583 men and women from central Pennsylvania, ranging in age from 20 to 100 yr). A random subset of this cohort (n = 1,741) was further evaluated for one night in the sleep laboratory.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The main measure was a complaint of EDS.

RESULTS

The final logistic regression model indicated depression was the most significant risk factor for EDS followed by body mass index, age, typical sleep duration, diabetes, smoking, and finally sleep apnea. The strength of the association with EDS decreased with increasing age, whereas the association of depression with EDS was stronger in the young. EDS is more prevalent in the young (<30 yr), suggesting the presence of unmet sleep needs and depression, and in the very old (>75 yr), suggesting increasing medical illness and health problems. EDS was associated with a reduced report of typical sleep duration without any association with objective polysomnographic measures.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that the presence of EDS is more strongly associated with depression and metabolic factors than with sleep-disordered breathing or sleep disruption per se. Our findings suggest that patients with a complaint of EDS should be thoroughly assessed for depression and obesity/diabetes independent of whether sleep-disordered breathing is present.

Variables related to outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization

Children (N = 110) hospitalized on a child psychiatric unit improved significantly in psychological functioning at discharge and 1- and 6-months follow-up relative to their functioning at admission. Children who were more impaired at admission made more progress during admission but were more impaired at follow-up than children who had milder symptoms at admission. Children without a behavior disorder had a better outcome than children with a behavior disorder. None of the other variables, alone or in combination, was significantly related to admission progress or follow-up outcome, including specific diagnoses, gender, race, age, IQ, family functioning, negative life events, parent education and employment, biological family history, length of hospitalization, parent involvement during admission and follow-up services.

Does DSM-IV Asperger's disorder exist?

DSM-IV criteria for autistic and Asperger's disorders were applied to 157 children with clinical diagnoses of autism or Asperger's disorder. All children met the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and none met criteria for Asperger's disorder, including those with normal intelligence and absence of early speech delay. The reason for this was that all children had social impairment and restricted and repetitive behavior and interests (required DSM-IV symptoms for both autistic and Asperger's disorders) and all had a DSM-IV communication impairment (which then qualified them for a diagnosis of autistic disorder and not Asperger's disorder). Communication problems exhibited by all children were impaired conversational speech or repetitive, stereotyped, or idiosyncratic speech (or both), which are DSM-IV criteria for autism. These findings are consistent with those of 5 other studies and indicate that a DSM-IV diagnosis of Asperger's disorder is unlikely or impossible.

Non-significance of early speech delay in children with autism and normal intelligence and implications for DSM-IV Asperger's disorder

According to the DSM-IV, children with Asperger's disorder do not have significant cognitive or speech delays, whereas children with autistic disorder may or may not. In our study, children with normal intelligence who had clinical diagnoses of autism or Asperger syndrome were divided into two groups: those with and without a significant speech delay. The purpose was to determine if clinically meaningful differences existed between the two groups that would support absence of speech delay as a DSM-IV criterion for Asperger's disorder. No significant differences were found between the 23 children with a speech delay and the 24 children without a speech delay on any of the 71 variables analyzed, including autistic symptoms and expressive language. Results suggest that early speech delay may be irrelevant to later functioning in children who have normal intelligence and clinical diagnoses of autism or Asperger syndrome and that speech delay as a DSM-IV distinction between Asperger's disorder and autism may not be justified.

Clinical validity and interpretation of the Gordon Diagnostic System in ADHD assessments

Gordon Diagnostic System (GDS) data were analyzed for 165 referred children with ADHD combined type and 46 referred children without ADHD, 6-16 years of age. Results showed significant differences between children with and without ADHD on the GDS standard scores and the IQ-GDS differences scores. Using a GDS composite standard score of 13 points or more below IQ to classify children as having ADHD resulted in the highest diagnostic accuracy (86%), with positive predictive power equal to 91%, and negative predictive power 67%. Results for the GDS compared favorably with those reported for other continuous performance tests. The findings lend support to the GDS as a clinically useful component of an ADHD evaluation.

Outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization

Admission, discharge, and follow-up evaluations of 110 children admitted to a child psychiatric unit (mean 14 days) showed that the children's psychological functioning improved significantly during hospitalization. Gains were not fully maintained at follow-up (1 and 6 months), but the children were still significantly less impaired after discharge than at admission. A nonsignificant difference existed between follow-up scores, indicating no loss of progress or decline in functioning from 1- to 6-month follow-up. The results are consistent with an ABA (A = no inpatient intervention, B = inpatient intervention, A = no inpatient intervention) treatment effect. They are not explained by removal from and return to an unsatisfactory home environment. Psychological functioning after admission was significantly better than after 1 to 6 months of post-discharge psychiatric services. This study offers a clinically feasible approach to evidence-based practice by documenting patient improvement during and after inpatient treatment using a simple, empirically supported assessment instrument.

Learning disabilities and ADHD: overlapping spectrumn disorders

Clinical and psychoeducational data were analyzed for 119 children ages 8 to 16 years who were evaluated in a child diagnostic clinic. A learning disability (LD) was present in 70% of the children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with a learning disability in written expression two times more common (65%) than a learning disability in reading, math, or spelling. Children with LD and ADHD had more severe learning problems than children who had LD but no ADHD, and the former also had more severe attention problems than children who had ADHD but no LD. Further, children with ADHD but no LD had some degree of learning problem, and children with LD but no ADHD had some degree of attention problem. Results suggest that learning and attention problems are on a continuum, are interrelated, and usually coexist.

Comparison of scores on two recent editions of the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration

Standard scores on the third and fourth editions of the Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration (VMI-3 and VMI-4) were compared for a sample of 120 children (4-17 years of age) referred to an outpatient diagnostic clinic for developmental learning, attention, mood, and behavior problems. The two editions of the test have the same items, so the test was administered only once to each child, but the editions differ in their scoring systems and norms. The correlation between the pairs of standard scores on the two editions was .99, and the absolute mean difference between scores was only 1.5 points.