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Prevalence of Parasomnia in School aged Children in Tehran

Mirfarhad Ghalebandi1, Mansour Salehi, Maryam Rasoulain

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry
|September 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated sleep disorders in Tehran school children, finding common parasomnias like sleep talking and bruxism. While often temporary, some cases indicate more serious issues possibly linked to stress.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Parasomnias are disruptive sleep disorders affecting children.
  • Understanding the prevalence of these conditions in school-aged populations is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of various parasomnias in school-aged children residing in Tehran, Iran.
  • To identify common sleep problems experienced by this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2005.
  • 6,000 sleep questionnaires were distributed among school-aged children across 5 districts of Tehran.
  • A modified 34-question Pediatric sleep questionnaire was utilized.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence rates for specific parasomnias included: sleep talking (2.7%), sleepwalking (0.5%), bruxism (5.7%), enuresis (2.3%), and nightmares (4%).
  • Occasional occurrences were reported by 13.1% for sleep talking, 1.4% for sleepwalking, 10.6% for bruxism, 3.1% for enuresis, and 18.4% for nightmares.
  • Bruxism and nightmares were the most frequently reported parasomnias.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of children entering school experience sleep problems.
  • While many sleep issues are transient and developmental, approximately 6% of children exhibit more severe disorders.
  • These more serious sleep disturbances may be associated with various stressors and behavioral issues.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildIranParasomniaPrevalenceSchools

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