Evidence of a maturational disruption in non-rapid eye movement sleep slow wave activity in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity, learning and internalizing disorders

BACKGROUND: Sleep slow wave activity (SWA) peaks during childhood and declines in the transition to adolescence during typical development (TD). It remains unknown whether this trajectory differs in youth with neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS: We analyzed sleep EEGs of 664 subjects 6 to 21y (449 TD, 123 unmedicated, 92 medicated) and 114 subjects 7–12y (median 10.5y) followed-up at 18–22y (median 19y). SWA (0.4–4 Hz) power was calculated during non-rapid eye movement sleep. RESULTS: TD and unmedicated youth showed cubic central and frontal SWA trajectories from 6 to 21y (p-cubic