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Clinical management of behavioral insomnia of childhood

Jennifer Vriend1, Penny Corkum

  • 1Clinical Psychology PhD Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Psychology Research and Behavior Management
|November 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Behavioral insomnia affects 25% of children, causing sleep problems and negative effects. This paper reviews evidence-based behavioral interventions for childhood insomnia and discusses access barriers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Health

Background:

  • Behavioral insomnia is common in children, affecting about 25%.
  • It leads to sleep difficulties and adverse outcomes for children and families.
  • Developmental changes influence sleep and intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirically supported behavioral interventions for childhood insomnia.
  • To explore developmental factors influencing behavioral insomnia.
  • To identify barriers to accessing these interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of empirically supported behavioral interventions.
  • Analysis of developmental influences on sleep and treatment.
  • Discussion of barriers to intervention access.

Main Results:

  • A range of behavioral interventions are effective for infant, child, and adolescent insomnia.
  • Biological, cognitive, and psychosocial factors impact sleep and treatment.
  • Healthcare providers often overlook effective behavioral interventions, hindering family access.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence-based behavioral interventions exist for childhood insomnia.
  • Understanding developmental changes is key to effective treatment.
  • Addressing access barriers is crucial for improving pediatric sleep health.

Keywords:
adolescentsbehavioral insomniachildreninfantssleeptreatment

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