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Behavioral interventions for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: current findings and future

Jennifer L Vriend1, Penny V Corkum, Erin C Moon

  • 1Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4J1. penny.corkum@dal.ca

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|July 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Behavioral interventions like extinction and scheduled awakenings show promise for treating sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More research is needed to confirm efficacy for other methods.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Research
  • Behavioral Interventions

Background:

  • Sleep problems are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Effective behavioral interventions are crucial for improving sleep quality and daily functioning in this population.
  • Current evidence for specific interventions needs further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for sleep problems in children with ASD.
  • To identify interventions that meet criteria for efficacy based on rigorous research standards.
  • To guide clinical practice and future research directions in pediatric ASD sleep management.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a systematic review of published studies on behavioral treatments for sleep issues in children with ASD.
  • Evaluated study methodologies and outcomes based on established criteria for treatment efficacy (Chambless criteria).
  • Synthesized findings to assess the level of evidence for various behavioral interventions.

Main Results:

  • Standard extinction and scheduled awakenings were identified as possibly efficacious interventions for sleep problems in children with ASD.
  • Some positive outcomes were noted for other interventions, but evidence remains insufficient for firm conclusions.
  • Further research is required to establish the efficacy of graduated extinction, faded bedtime, stimulus fading, and chronotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • While current sleep interventions for ASD lack definitive "probably efficacious" or "well-established" status, existing literature can inform clinical decisions.
  • Rigorous research is essential to strengthen the evidence base for behavioral sleep interventions in ASD.
  • The findings highlight the need for continued investigation into effective sleep management strategies for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Abstract

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