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Parental perception of sleep problems in children of normal intelligence with pervasive developmental disorders:

Jennifer L Couturier1, Kathy N Speechley, Margaret Steele

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. jlcoutur@uwo.ca

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|July 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Parents report significantly more sleep problems in children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) compared to typically developing children. These sleep issues, including onset delay and anxiety, require clinical attention.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children.
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) encompass a range of neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • Understanding sleep patterns in children with PDDs is crucial for their well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare parental perceptions of sleep problems in children with PDDs versus a control group.
  • To assess the prevalence, severity, and specific patterns of sleep issues in children with PDDs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire.
  • Surveyed parents of children (5-12 years) diagnosed with PDDs and matched controls.
  • Employed chart review for PDD diagnosis confirmation (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised).

Main Results:

  • Parents reported significantly higher prevalence (78% vs. 26%) and severity of sleep problems in the PDD group.
  • Sleep onset delay, duration, anxiety, and parasomnias were significantly more frequent in children with PDDs.
  • High response rates achieved in both PDD (82.2%) and comparison (55.8%) groups.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems are more prevalent and severe in children with PDDs than typically developing children.
  • The pattern of sleep disturbances in PDDs is diverse and warrants further investigation.
  • Clinical attention and research are needed for sleep issues in children with PDDs.
Abstract

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