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The Role of Sleep in Childhood Psychiatric Disorders

Candice A Alfano1, Amanda L Gamble

  • 1Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine.

Child & Youth Care Forum
|December 5, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Early sleep problems in children significantly impact emotional and behavioral regulation, increasing psychopathology risk. Addressing these sleep issues is crucial for effective mental health treatment and prevention in youth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric psychiatry
  • Developmental psychology
  • Sleep medicine

Background:

  • Sleep problems are core features of psychiatric disorders in children.
  • The reciprocal relationship between early sleep, emotion, and behavior regulation is understudied.
  • Early sleep disturbances may be a risk factor for psychopathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Review the pediatric literature on sleep in children with psychiatric disorders.
  • Examine the role of early sleep problems as a risk factor for psychopathology.
  • Consider mechanisms and implications of early sleep disruption.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of pediatric literature.
  • Analysis of evidence linking early sleep problems to psychopathology.
  • Synthesis of data to propose mechanisms and implications.

Main Results:

  • Children with primary psychiatric disorders frequently exhibit sleep problems.
  • Evidence supports early sleep disruption as a risk factor for developing psychopathology.
  • Sleep, emotion, and behavior regulation are intricately linked from early development.

Conclusions:

  • Early sleep problems are significant in pediatric mental health.
  • Clinicians should assess and treat sleep disorders in children and adolescents.
  • Interventions targeting early sleep disruption may reduce psychopathology risk and improve treatment outcomes.

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