Effectiveness of Combining Medication and Lifestyle Modification with Iranian Traditional Medicine Measures Compared to Medication Alone on the Sleep Quality of Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background: The current study aims to compare the effects of medication and lifestyle changes with medication alone on the quality of sleep in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Method: The study uses a mixed-methods approach to design a treatment for children with ADHD. It employs inductive thematic analysis to identifiy problems, and create a lifestyle modification package. The package is reviewed and approved by a panel of experts. The study evaluates the effects of two interventions on children with ADHD and sleep problems using a quasi-experimental design. The population consists of 7-11-year-olds from the Felavarjan region, diagnosed with ADHD and experiencing sleep issues. The study involves a combination of drug therapy and lifestyle modification, drug therapy alone, or no intervention. Results: The findings show that, when compared to the control group, there is a significant difference in sleep quality between the experimental groups that received medication and lifestyle adjustment and those that received medication alone (P<0.05). Children's sleep quality was significantly enhanced by the combination of medicine and lifestyle change, which proved to be more effective than medication alone. Conclusion: Lifestyle change combined with medication were found to be more effective in improving sleep quality in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder compared to medication alone. Based on the findings of the present study, lifestyle modification is suggested as a complementary approach to pharmacotherapy for reducing problems and improving sleep quality in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. © 2025, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.