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Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum problems: a longitudinal population-based study

Børge Sivertsen1, Maj-Britt Posserud, Christopher Gillberg

  • 1Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway. borge.sivertsen@fhi.no

Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice
|April 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with Autism Spectrum Problems (ASP) experience chronic insomnia at ten times the rate of their peers. These sleep issues are more persistent and develop more frequently over time in children with ASP.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep problems are common in children.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with various challenges, including sleep disturbances.
  • Longitudinal data on sleep problems in children with Autism Spectrum Problems (ASP) is crucial for understanding chronicity and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and chronicity of sleep problems in children with Autism Spectrum Problems (ASP).
  • To assess the incidence and remission rates of sleep problems in children with ASP over time.
  • To identify predictors of sleep problems in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal population-based study assessing children at ages 7-9 and 11-13.
  • Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) used to identify children with ASP.
  • Sleep problems, including insomnia, were assessed, along with emotional and behavioral factors.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASP had a >10x higher prevalence of chronic insomnia compared to controls.
  • Incidence of new sleep problems was 37.5% in children with ASP vs. 8.6% in controls.
  • Sleep problems in ASP were more persistent, with a remission rate of 8.3% vs. 52.4% in controls. ASP predicted sleep problems (OR=12.44), with a significant independent effect on insomnia (OR=3.25) after accounting for behavioral issues.

Conclusions:

  • Children with Autism Spectrum Problems exhibit a significantly higher prevalence and chronicity of sleep problems, particularly insomnia.
  • Sleep problems represent a persistent challenge for children with ASP, requiring targeted interventions.
  • Increased clinical awareness and screening for sleep disturbances in children with ASP are warranted.

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