Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis : a case-control study

Abstract EN

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood neurological disorders.

The aim of this study was to investigate ADHD in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) and compare it with healthy children.

A total of 100 five to 16-year-old children with PMNE and 100 healthy children without NE were included in this case–control study as the cases and control groups, respectively.

Subjects were selected from children who were referred to the pediatric clinic of the Amir Kabir Hospital of Arak, Iran, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

ADHD was diagnosed by Conner’s Parent Rating Scale–48 and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria and was confirmed by consultation with a psychiatrist.

Data were analyzed by binomial test using SPSS18.

ADHD inattentive type was observed in 16 cases (16%) with PMNE and five controls (5 %) (P = 0.01).

Despite these significant differences in the case and control groups, 25 (25 %) and 16 (16 %) children were affected by ADHD hyperactive-impulsive type (P = 0.08) and 15 (15 %) and 16 (16 %) children were affected by ADHD mixed type (P = 0.84), respectively.

ADHD inattentive type in children with PMNE was significantly more common than that in healthy children.

The observed correlation between ADHD inattentive type and PMNE makes psychological counseling mandatory in children with PMNE.