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Psychological disturbance and sleep disorders in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

Hilary Johnson1, Luci Wiggs, Gregory Stores

  • 1Park Hospital for Children, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LQ, UK. hilaryjohnson@onetel.com

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|April 19, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) exhibit higher rates of behavioral issues and sleep disturbances, including parasomnias. Early screening for conditions like attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder is recommended.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder with varied clinical manifestations.
  • Behavioral and sleep problems are frequently reported in children, but specific data for NF1 is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and nature of behavioral and sleep patterns in children diagnosed with NF1.
  • To identify correlations between sleep disturbances and specific behavioral difficulties in the NF1 population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using postal questionnaires and telephone follow-ups.
  • Validated instruments, including Simonds and Parraga's sleep questionnaire and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, were employed.
  • Data were collected from 64 children (39 male, mean age 10 years 7 months) with NF1.

Main Results:

  • Children with NF1 showed significantly higher scores in borderline/abnormal ranges for peer problems, hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, and conduct disorder compared to general population norms.
  • Parasomnias, such as sleepwalking and sleep terrors, were more frequent in the NF1 group.
  • Within the NF1 cohort, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and emotional issues were significantly associated with frequent sleep disturbance.

Conclusions:

  • NF1 is strongly associated with a high proportion of children experiencing sleep and behavioral problems.
  • Conditions like attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder may be underdiagnosed in children with NF1.
  • Implementing simple screening tools in clinical practice could aid in identifying these issues early.

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