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Contact Information:

Prof Catherine Hill
C.M.Hill@soton.ac.uk


Miss Alannah Morgan
sleepbuddy@soton.ac.uk


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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - A study to test whether a new website, Sleep Buddy, developed by doctors and psychologists, can help parents and carers of children aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of ADHD who are experiencing sleep problems to improve their child’s sleep
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A study to test whether a new website, Sleep Buddy, developed by doctors and psychologists, can help parents and carers of children aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of ADHD who are experiencing sleep problems to improve their child’s sleep

Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Child

Beckenham Newcastle upon Tyne Sheffield Southampton

Medical Conditions

Insomnia and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Almost 75% of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have sleep problems. Parents and carers tell us that poor sleep makes their children’s daytime behaviour and schoolwork worse and affects the quality of life of the whole family.
The aim of this study is to see if our new website Sleep Buddy, can help parents/carers of children aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of ADHD, to improve their child’s sleep.
Sleep Buddy was developed by parents and carers of children with ADHD working with sleep experts. It has personalised information and advice on how primary caregivers can manage their child’s sleep problems with videos and top tips from other parents. The website will help primary caregivers to create a sleep plan to help their child’s sleep.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

04 Jul 2025 30 Apr 2027

The study will last for 6 months, and over 300 people will take part. The study can be completed online.
Parents or carers taking part will be put into one of two groups. One group will have access to the Sleep Buddy website for 6 months. The other group will not, but will continue to receive the health care and support that they have always been given. This group will also get access to the website after 6 months, at the end of the research project.
At the start of the study, both groups will be asked to fill out a short sleep diary online every morning for 10 Days. They will also complete some questionnaires online and some with a study researcher on video chat. The child will be invited to complete some computer-based attention and memory tasks, with the support of one of our researchers. All participants will complete the sleep diary, questionnaires and tasks at month 3 and month 6.


Children aged 6 - 12 years who suffer from ADHD and chronic insomnia.

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Child has sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder 2. Child has severe learning disabilities 3. Child with physical ill health or disability likely to require admission to hospital during the 6-month trial period4. Child with long term health problems that affect their sleep. (e.g. severe eczema or epilepsy) 5. Primary carer has participated in the DISCA study ‘think aloud’ interviews during Sleep Buddy development


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
    Bethlem Royal Hospital Monks Orchard Road
    Beckenham
    BR3 3BX
  • Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
    St Nicholas Hospital Jubilee Road Gosforth
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE3 3XT
  • Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
    Western Bank
    Sheffield
    S10 2TH
  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    Tatchbury Mount Hospital Calmore
    Southampton
    SO40 2RZ

If you are allocated to the group asked to use the website, you will have the opportunity to use a website developed by experts. Participants in all groups will be helping to contribute to our understanding of how best to help children diagnosed with ADHD experiencing sleep problems and their carers.
If you and your child are in put in the group that does not have access to the website, you may not benefit during the study, but we hope that you will find it a positive experience. There is no financial benefit to participating, you may however benefit from the use of the study website that will be offered to you at the end of the study.
Whichever group you are randomised into, you will be helping to contribute to our understanding of how best to help sleep problems in this population.Children who complete all online tasks will be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 Love2Shop or Amazon gift voucher. There will be 20 prizes of this amount. Additionally, if you participate in the interviews, you will receive a £20 Love2Shop or Amazon gift voucher.
A possible disadvantage is the time taken to be a part of the study. Completing the 10-Day Diary, questionnaires and attention and memory tasks will take some time, as well as time associated with using the website.

Prof Catherine Hill
C.M.Hill@soton.ac.uk


Miss Alannah Morgan
sleepbuddy@soton.ac.uk



The study is sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN60701389

Or CPMS: 66477

Last updated 16 July 2026

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