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Sleep in children with psychiatric disorders

Anna Ivanenko1, Valerie McLaughlin Crabtree, David Gozal

  • 1Division of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, University of Louisville, 571 South Floyd Street, Room 438, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. AIVANENKO@lumc.edu

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|March 11, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with emotional and behavioral problems often have sleep difficulties. Treatment varies from cognitive-behavioral interventions for bedtime issues to professional management for pervasive sleep problems in psychiatric disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychiatry
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children with psychiatric disorders.
  • The precise nature of these sleep issues requires further extensive study.
  • Children with emotional and behavioral problems show a higher prevalence of sleep difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the current understanding of sleep disturbances in children with psychiatric disorders.
  • To differentiate management strategies based on the type and pervasiveness of sleep issues.
  • To highlight the need for specialized interventions for complex cases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pediatric sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions.
  • Categorization of sleep problems based on their presentation (e.g., bedtime-limited vs. pervasive).
  • Discussion of treatment modalities, including cognitive-behavioral interventions, psychotherapy, and pharmacologic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Sleep difficulties are frequently observed in children with significant emotional and behavioral challenges.
  • Bedtime-limited sleep issues can often be effectively managed with cognitive-behavioral interventions.
  • Pervasive sleep problems in children with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or neurodevelopmental disabilities necessitate comprehensive evaluation and professional intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep disturbances are a significant concern in pediatric psychiatric populations.
  • Tailored treatment approaches are essential, ranging from behavioral strategies to multidisciplinary professional management.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between sleep and psychiatric disorders in children.

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