#82 - Sleep and ADHD with Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery

CBTI Benefits

Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery explains how cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) can significantly improve sleep quality and ADHD symptoms. She highlights that CBTI shares a similar framework with ADHD treatments, focusing on behavioral and cognitive changes to enhance daily functioning 1. For instance, creating consistent routines and setting regular bedtimes can help adolescents manage both sleep and ADHD symptoms effectively 1.

Adolescents with ADHD and sleep problems may benefit from behavioral sleep interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia or CBTI.

--- Jessica Lunsford-Avery

Matt Walker adds that parents should be aware of the potential cognitive impairments in children with ADHD and consider behavioral interventions as part of a holistic treatment plan 2.

   

Motivating Adolescents

Motivating adolescents to improve their sleep requires connecting with what they care about, such as mood, athletic performance, and grades. Jessica emphasizes the importance of educating adolescents on how sleep supports these areas and helping them find their own internal motivation 3. She notes that simply giving rules is ineffective; instead, providing reasons and context for better sleep habits is crucial.

People don't respond to rules. People respond to reasons and not rules.

--- Matt Walker

Jessica also discusses the development of a sleep app designed to engage teens and help them create consistent sleep schedules, highlighting the importance of involving adolescents in the design process to ensure the app's effectiveness 4.