1.The mediating role of anxiety/depression emotions between sleep quality and cognitive function in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Anxiu ZHOU ; Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Hairun LIU ; Hong ZHANG ; Siyan HUANG ; Lixian YANG ; Chunling YAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(8):692-697
Objective:To explore the mediating role of anxiety/depression emotions between sleep quality and cognitive function in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods:A cross-sectional study design was adopted, involving 204 ADHD adolescents aged 12-18 who were treated between January 2021 and November 2023.All participants were assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)for sleep quality, the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and self-rating depression scale(SDS) for emotional states.Four cognitive information processing processes(planning, simultaneous processing, attention, and successive processing) were evaluated by the Das-Naglieri cognitive assessment system(DN: CAS). Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and Zstats software, including descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, and mediation effect analysis.Results:Among ADHD adolescents, girls exhibited significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance(71.59%(63/88) vs 43.97%(51/116), χ2=15.490, P<0.001)and depressive emotion(47.73%(42/88) vs 33.62%(39/116), χ2=4.159, P=0.041)compared to boys.High school students had a significantly higher rate of sleep disturbance than middle school students(64.84%(59/91) vs 48.67%(55/113), χ2=5.341, P=0.021). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that sleep quality(8.00(6.00, 11.00)) in ADHD adolescents was significantly and positively correlated with anxiety(38.00(32.00, 46.00); r=0.504, P<0.01) and depression(46.00(39.00, 54.00); r=0.427, P<0.01). And sleep quality, anxiety and depression were significantly and negatively correlated with the DN: CAS total score(109.5(91.25, 123.75); r=-0.158--0.237, P<0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that anxiety mediated the relationship between sleep quality and attention function(indirect effect β=-0.159, Bootstrap 95% CI=-0.287--0.046). Conclusion:ADHD adolescents exhibit complex interactions among sleep quality, emotion, and cognitive function, sleep quality indirectly affects attention function through anxiety.
2.The mediating role of anxiety/depression emotions between sleep quality and cognitive function in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Anxiu ZHOU ; Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Hairun LIU ; Hong ZHANG ; Siyan HUANG ; Lixian YANG ; Chunling YAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(8):692-697
Objective:To explore the mediating role of anxiety/depression emotions between sleep quality and cognitive function in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods:A cross-sectional study design was adopted, involving 204 ADHD adolescents aged 12-18 who were treated between January 2021 and November 2023.All participants were assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)for sleep quality, the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and self-rating depression scale(SDS) for emotional states.Four cognitive information processing processes(planning, simultaneous processing, attention, and successive processing) were evaluated by the Das-Naglieri cognitive assessment system(DN: CAS). Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and Zstats software, including descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, and mediation effect analysis.Results:Among ADHD adolescents, girls exhibited significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance(71.59%(63/88) vs 43.97%(51/116), χ2=15.490, P<0.001)and depressive emotion(47.73%(42/88) vs 33.62%(39/116), χ2=4.159, P=0.041)compared to boys.High school students had a significantly higher rate of sleep disturbance than middle school students(64.84%(59/91) vs 48.67%(55/113), χ2=5.341, P=0.021). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that sleep quality(8.00(6.00, 11.00)) in ADHD adolescents was significantly and positively correlated with anxiety(38.00(32.00, 46.00); r=0.504, P<0.01) and depression(46.00(39.00, 54.00); r=0.427, P<0.01). And sleep quality, anxiety and depression were significantly and negatively correlated with the DN: CAS total score(109.5(91.25, 123.75); r=-0.158--0.237, P<0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that anxiety mediated the relationship between sleep quality and attention function(indirect effect β=-0.159, Bootstrap 95% CI=-0.287--0.046). Conclusion:ADHD adolescents exhibit complex interactions among sleep quality, emotion, and cognitive function, sleep quality indirectly affects attention function through anxiety.
3.The impact of sleep disturbances on functional impairment outcomes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Haijiao QIN ; Xiuye FANG ; Biao LUO ; Hong ZHANG ; Hairun LIU ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(2):109-113
Objective:To explore the impact of sleep disturbances on the symptoms and functional impairment outcomes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their path analysis.Methods:A cross-sectional study was made.Two hundred and seventy-eight ADHD children aged 6-12 years were selected from the Center for Cognition and Sleep, the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2022 to March 2023.The Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Rating Scale Ⅳ was used to evaluate the core symptoms of ADHD (namely, attention deficit and hyperactivity).The sleep disturbance scale for children was used to assess sleep disturbances [including disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep(DIMS), sleep breathing disorders, sleep-wake transition disorders (SWTD), disorders of arousal, disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES) and nocturnal hyperhidrosis].The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Report (WFIRS-P) was used to assess functional impairment (in family, learning and school, life skills, self-concept, social activities, and risky activities).The descriptive statistical analysis, t test, multivariate linear regression and path analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:Compared with those without sleep disturbances, ADHD children with sleep disturbances had significantly more serious functional impairment in family [(0.87±0.42) scores vs.(0.63±0.45) scores, P<0.001], learning and school [(0.75±0.37) scores vs.(0.62±0.35) scores, P=0.011], life skills [(1.30±0.37) scores vs.(1.08±0.30) scores, P<0.001], self-concept [(1.20±0.57) scores vs.(0.92±0.49) scores, P<0.001], social activities [(0.88±0.44) scores vs.(0.67±0.42) scores, P<0.001] and risky activities [(0.28±0.24) scores vs.(0.21±0.21) scores, P=0.043].The results of multivariate linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for gender, age, total intelligence quotient, and core symptoms of ADHD, the regression coefficients of DOES in domains of family ( B=0.02, P=0.042) and life skills ( B=0.03, P<0.001) and the regression coefficient of DIMS in self-concept were still statistically significant ( B=0.02, P=0.013).The path analysis results showed that DOES ( β=0.170, P=0.004), attention deficit ( β=0.223, P<0.001) and hyperactivity ( β=0.385, P<0.001) directly affected WFIRS-P.DOES indirectly affected WFIRS-P through attention deficit ( β=0.270, P<0.001), and SWTD indirectly affected WFIRS-P through hyperactivity ( β=0.199, P=0.004). Conclusions:Severer sleep disturbances are associated with severer functional impairment in children with ADHD, and sleep phenotypes can directly or indirectly affect functional impairment outcomes in different domains in children with ADHD through core symptoms of ADHD.
4.The impact of sleep disturbances on functional impairment outcomes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Haijiao QIN ; Xiuye FANG ; Biao LUO ; Hong ZHANG ; Hairun LIU ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(2):109-113
Objective:To explore the impact of sleep disturbances on the symptoms and functional impairment outcomes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their path analysis.Methods:A cross-sectional study was made.Two hundred and seventy-eight ADHD children aged 6-12 years were selected from the Center for Cognition and Sleep, the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2022 to March 2023.The Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Rating Scale Ⅳ was used to evaluate the core symptoms of ADHD (namely, attention deficit and hyperactivity).The sleep disturbance scale for children was used to assess sleep disturbances [including disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep(DIMS), sleep breathing disorders, sleep-wake transition disorders (SWTD), disorders of arousal, disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES) and nocturnal hyperhidrosis].The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Report (WFIRS-P) was used to assess functional impairment (in family, learning and school, life skills, self-concept, social activities, and risky activities).The descriptive statistical analysis, t test, multivariate linear regression and path analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:Compared with those without sleep disturbances, ADHD children with sleep disturbances had significantly more serious functional impairment in family [(0.87±0.42) scores vs.(0.63±0.45) scores, P<0.001], learning and school [(0.75±0.37) scores vs.(0.62±0.35) scores, P=0.011], life skills [(1.30±0.37) scores vs.(1.08±0.30) scores, P<0.001], self-concept [(1.20±0.57) scores vs.(0.92±0.49) scores, P<0.001], social activities [(0.88±0.44) scores vs.(0.67±0.42) scores, P<0.001] and risky activities [(0.28±0.24) scores vs.(0.21±0.21) scores, P=0.043].The results of multivariate linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for gender, age, total intelligence quotient, and core symptoms of ADHD, the regression coefficients of DOES in domains of family ( B=0.02, P=0.042) and life skills ( B=0.03, P<0.001) and the regression coefficient of DIMS in self-concept were still statistically significant ( B=0.02, P=0.013).The path analysis results showed that DOES ( β=0.170, P=0.004), attention deficit ( β=0.223, P<0.001) and hyperactivity ( β=0.385, P<0.001) directly affected WFIRS-P.DOES indirectly affected WFIRS-P through attention deficit ( β=0.270, P<0.001), and SWTD indirectly affected WFIRS-P through hyperactivity ( β=0.199, P=0.004). Conclusions:Severer sleep disturbances are associated with severer functional impairment in children with ADHD, and sleep phenotypes can directly or indirectly affect functional impairment outcomes in different domains in children with ADHD through core symptoms of ADHD.
5.The relationship among sleep phenotypes, clinical symptoms and cognitive function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Wenliu ZHANG ; Chan CHEN ; Yuping WU ; Hong ZHANG ; Hairun LIU ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2024;33(10):901-906
Objective:To explore the relationship among sleep phenotypes, attention deficit and hyperactivity impulsivity (ADHD) symptoms and cognitive information processing in children with ADHD.Methods:A total of 244 children with ADHD aged 6-12 were selected from December 2021 to December 2022.Swanson, Nolan and Pelham rating scale Ⅳ(SNAP-Ⅳ) was used to evaluate the core symptoms of ADHD.Sleep disturbance scale for children (SDSC) was used to evaluate six sleep phenotypes((disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS), sleep breathing disorders(SDB), sleep-wake transition disorders(SWTD), disorders of arousal(DA), disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES), and Nocturnal hyperhidrosis(SHY)). Das-Naglieri cognitive function assessment system (DN-CAS) was used to evaluate the cognitive information processing (planning, simultaneous processing, attention and successive processing). Descriptive statistical analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and mediation analysis were conducted by SPSSAU 23.0 and Zstats software, respectively.Results:Correlation analysis showed that DIMS, SDB, SWTD, DA and DOES were significantly and positively correlated with attention deficit ( r=0.190-0.349, all P<0.01).DIMS(2.14(1.71, 2.57)), SWTD(1.67(1.33, 2.00)) and SHY(2.00(1.50, 3.00)) were significantly positively correlated with hyperactive impulsivity (1.44(1.00, 2.00))( r=0.193, 0.242, 0.133, P<0.05). Attention deficit(1.78(1.44, 2.33)) was significantly and negatively correlated with successive processing(105.00(96.00, 112.00)) ( r=-0.127, P<0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that after controlling for sex, age, verbal IQ and operational IQ, DIMS ( β=0.152, P<0.05) and SWTD ( β=0.178, P<0.05) had significant positive predictive effects on hyperactive impulsivity symptoms. DOES ( β=0.259, P<0.01) had significant positive predictive effects on attention deficit symptoms. Attention deficit ( β=-0.183, P<0.05) had a significant negative predictive effect on successive processing. Mediation effect analysis showed that attention deficit played a complete mediating role between DOES and successive processing(effect=-0.179, Bootstrap 95% CI=-0.196--0.110). Conclusion:Different sleep phenotypes are associated with ADHD core symptoms and different dimensions of cognitive information processing processes. DOES indirectly affects successive processing capability by attention deficit symptoms.
6.Effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder core symptoms and behavior problems on sleep of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Yanhong FU ; Ling QIN ; Wenliu ZHANG ; Hui SUN ; Hong ZHANG ; Hairun LIU ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2024;39(11):848-852
Objective:To explore the effects of the core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavior problems on the sleep of children with ADHD and their correlation.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 289 children aged 6-12 years with ADHD who visited the Outpatient Department of the Center for Cognition and Sleep at the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from June 2021 to December 2022 were selected.The Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Rating Scale Ⅳ was used to assess ADHD core symptoms (attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity), the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire was used to assess behavior problems (conduct, learning, psychosomatic symptoms, and anxiety), and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) was used to assess sleep.Multivariate Logistic regression, multivariate linear regression, and path analysis were performed for statistical analysis of the data.Results:Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling age, gender, verbal intelligence quotient and performance intelligence quotient, attention deficit ( P=0.008, OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.28-5.28), psychosomatic symptoms ( P=0.027, OR=6.77, 95% CI: 1.24-36.93) and anxiety ( P=0.013, OR=3.96, 95% CI: 1.43-11.67) increased the risk of sleep disturbances in children with ADHD (SDSC score >39 points).Path analysis showed that attention deficit ( β=0.244, P=0.001), psychosomatic symptoms ( β=0.114, P=0.046) and anxiety ( β=0.216, P<0.001) directly affected the SDSC score.Hyperactivity-impulsivity indirectly affected the SDSC score through psychosomatic symptoms ( β=0.142, P=0.039), and attention deficit indirectly affected the SDSC score through anxiety ( β=0.321, P<0.001). Conclusions:The severer the core symptoms of ADHD and behavior problems are, the higher the degree of sleep disturbances in children with ADHD is.Psychosomatic symptoms and anxiety are directly associated with the sleep disturbances of ADHD children.Attention deficit has direct or anxiety-mediated indirect impact on the sleep of ADHD children.Hyperactivity-impulsivity indirectly affects the sleep of children with ADHD through psychosomatic symptoms.
7.Cognitive information processing characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder
Hui SUN ; Ling QIN ; Yanhong FU ; Hairun LIU ; Hong ZHANG ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2023;32(11):976-980
Objective:To evaluate the cognitive information processes in children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD)based on the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System(DN: CAS)and to explore the characteristics of these cognitive processes.Methods:Thirty-two children with ASD and thirty-two healthy controls matched 1∶1 by gender and age were enrolled in this study.The cognition of all individuals was evaluated by the DN: CAS.SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis and Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to analyze the data. Results:Compared with the healthy control group, children with ASD had significantly lower scores in planning subtest of DN: CAS(23.50(19.00, 25.00) vs 30.50(27.00, 35.75), Z=-5.014, P<0.01), attention subtest of DN: CAS(25.50(20.25, 27.75) vs 33.00(28.00, 36.00), Z=-4.317, P<0.01), and the DN: CAS total score(115.00(106.00, 132.25) vs 139.00(127.00, 143.00), Z=-3.849, P<0.01). And there were significant differences in matching numbers(9.00(6.25, 10.00) vs 12.00(10.00, 13.75), Z=-4.317, P<0.01), planned codes(7.00(5.25, 8.00) vs 9.00(7.00, 11.00), Z=-3.404, P<0.01), planned connections(7.00(4.25, 9.75) vs 10.00(9.00, 12.00), Z=-4.383, P<0.01)in planning and expressive attention(8.00(6.25, 10.75) vs 11.50(8.25, 13.75), Z=-3.251, P<0.01), number detection(8.00(6.25, 10.00) vs 10.00(9.00, 12.00), Z=-3.628, P<0.01), receptive attention(8.00(6.00, 9.00) vs 10.00(9.00, 13.00), Z=-3.351, P<0.01)in attention between ASD children and healthy controls. Conclusion:ASD children have the planning and attention deficits.
8.Influence of tomoxetine hydrochloride on the cognitive processing of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Dan WANG ; Ling QIN ; Hairun LIU ; Dandan LI ; Chunling YAO ; Yanhong FU ; Hong ZHANG ; Siyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2022;31(9):819-825
Objective:To explore the influence of tomoxetine hydrochloride on the cognitive processing of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods:From January 2018 to July 2021, 62 ADHD children who were treated with tomoxetine hydrochloride for the first time for(8±4) weeks were selected as the ADHD group.And 62 healthy children matched with age and sex were selected as the healthy control group.Pre-test and post-test by the Das-Naglieri: Cognitive Assessment System(DN: CAS) were performed to evaluate the cognitive function of all individuals.The differences of cognitive processing in pre-treatment and post-treatment of ADHD group were compared with those in healthy control group.The difference between before and after treatment of ADHD group was also compared.SPSS 26.0 statistical software was adopted for statistical analysis.The scores of ADHD group pre-treatment and post-treatment were compared by paired sample t-test, and the scores of ADHD group pre-treatment and post-treatment were compared with those of healthy control group by independent sample t-test. Results:Compared with healthy control group, there were lower of planning score((18.77±5.92) vs (28.56±5.55)), attention score((22.24±5.93) vs (29.56±6.16)), simultaneous processing ((34.21±7.75) vs (37.61±6.29)), successive processing((30.37±7.12) vs (33.74±5.43)), and the total scores((105.60±21.29) vs (134.84±22.87)) in ADHD group before treatment, and there were significant differences( t=9.49, 6.74, 2.68, 2.96, 7.36, all P<0.05). Compared with healthy control group, there were lower of planning score ((22.13±5.99)s), attention score((25.26±7.11) with significant difference( t=6.20, 3.60, both P<0.05) in ADHD group after treatment.And there was no significant difference in the simultaneous processing test and the successive processing test after treatment compared with the healthy control group(both P>0.05). In ADHD group, the scores of planning, simultaneous processing, attention, successive processing and the total score were significantly higher after treatment than those before treatment and there were significant differences( t=-6.03, -4.13, -4.77, -5.48, -8.59, all P<0.05). (2) Compared with the healthy control group, there were lower of matching number score and other 8 sub-test scales in DN: CAS test in ADHD group before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, there were still lower of matching number score and other 4 sub-test scales in DN: CAS test in ADHD group after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The matching number score and other 10 sub-test scales in DN: CAS test in ADHD group after treatment were all higher than those of before treatment(all P<0.05). Conclusion:The planning, attention, simultaneous processing, successive processing and total cognitive function of ADHD children were significantly improved after treatment with tomoxetine hydrochloride, special for simultaneous processing and successive processing.
9.Progress of the non-invasive neuromodulation in treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Hairun LIU ; Rongshan QIN ; Ling QIN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2021;36(7):558-560
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the medical treatment, while it does not bring high compliance.Therefore, non-medical therapy is a research focus in this field.Non-invasive neuromodulation can regulate the functional state of central nervous system by electric, magnetic, or chemical approach through invasive equipment that is proved to be highly safe.In the clinical industry, non-invasive neuromodulation is a widely used physiotherapy in various types of neuropsychiatric disorders, and has received satisfying effects.On the contrary, the utilization of this technique on ADHD in clinical settings is still under the research stage.This review aims at elaborating the clinical progress of several non-invasive neuromodulation approaches on ADHD, so as to provide reference to future researches in this field.
10.Sleep and language development in children and adolescents
Siyan HUANG ; Ling QIN ; Hairun LIU ; Dandan LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2021;30(5):476-480
Sleep takes an important role in maintaining typical development, neural plasticity, and language development. Not only poorer performance in memory and cognitive functions, but also obvious delayed language development are seen in children and adolescents with sleep problem. Previous research found that sleep duration affects children and adolescents' ability in comprehensive vocabulary, expressive vocabulary, and vocabulary retention. Children and adolescents with poor sleep quality usually show language developmental delay, however, there is no integrated evaluation tool for sleep and language, and a consistent conclusion is therefore not reached. Daytime naps are beneficial to consolidate vocabulary learning in infants, and it’s also relevant to vocabulary retention and generalization in children and adolescents. Children with sleep related breathing disorders show lower ability in receptive language comprehension and lower lexical level, and with the increase of their age, the severity of their language disorder becomes higher. Besides, sleep can promote language learning in children with neuro-developmental disorder.The neuro-physiological mechanism underlying sleep and language remains unknown, and one of the possible explanations is that sleep problem harms the information processing in frontal lobe and hippocampus, and interferes with neural plasticity. The injury includes memory, attention, executive function, auditory processing, and so on, and finally language development is damaged. Further research is necessary to clarify the relation and mechanism between these two elements, this will be helpful in finding out an effective way to promote language function in children with language retardation and/or combined with neuro-developmental disorder.

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