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Sleep disturbance in children with migraine

Kenneth Heng1, Elaine Wirrell

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 1820 Richmond Road SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Journal of Child Neurology
|September 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with migraine experience more sleep disturbances and behavioral problems than their siblings. Addressing sleep issues in pediatric migraine patients is crucial for improving their overall well-being and academic performance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Children with migraine often face co-occurring sleep disturbances and behavioral issues.
  • The relationship between migraine severity, sleep disruption, and behavioral outcomes in children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare sleep disturbances in children with migraine versus their siblings.
  • To assess the correlation between migraine severity and sleep disruption.
  • To determine if sleep disturbances in children with migraine contribute to behavioral problems and school absenteeism.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of children aged 6-18 with migraine and their siblings were recruited from a neurology clinic.
  • Parents completed validated questionnaires on demographics, general health, migraine characteristics, sleep habits (Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire), and behavior (Behavior Assessment System for Children: Second Edition - BASC-2).

Main Results:

  • Children with migraine exhibited significantly higher scores for total sleep, sleep delay, and daytime sleepiness compared to controls.
  • Increased migraine severity correlated with higher total sleep and sleep duration.
  • In children with migraine, elevated total sleep scores were predictive of greater externalizing and internalizing problems, and poorer adaptability.

Conclusions:

  • Children diagnosed with migraine are predisposed to significant sleep and behavioral disturbances compared to their non-migraineur siblings.
  • Routine screening for sleep disorders and provision of sleep hygiene education are recommended for pediatric migraine patients.

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