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Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

Behavioral parent training to address sleep disturbances in young children with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot

Cynthia R Johnson1, Kylan S Turner, Emily Foldes

  • 1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Autism Center, 3420 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.

Sleep Medicine
|September 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Behavioral parent training (BPT) improved sleep disturbances in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This feasible, manualized program showed initial efficacy via parent reports in a small randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Treatment options for sleep issues in young children with ASD remain understudied.
  • Behavioral parent training (BPT) is a potential avenue for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a manualized BPT program for parents of young children with ASD and sleep disturbances.
  • To assess the feasibility, fidelity, and initial efficacy of this BPT program.
  • To conduct a small randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the intervention.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 40 young children (average age 3.5 years) diagnosed with ASD and their parents were enrolled.
  • Participants were randomized into a BPT group or a control group receiving non-sleep-related parent education.
  • A 5-session program was delivered over 8 weeks, with outcomes measured at weeks 4 and 8. Sleep was assessed via parent report and actigraphy.

Main Results:

  • The manualized BPT program demonstrated feasibility and high treatment fidelity.
  • The BPT group showed significantly greater improvement in sleep outcomes based on parent reports compared to the control group.
  • Objective sleep measures using actigraphy did not reveal significant changes.

Conclusions:

  • This study is among the few RCTs to demonstrate the feasibility of a manualized BPT program for sleep disturbances in young children with ASD.
  • Initial efficacy suggests the BPT program is promising and warrants further investigation.
  • Larger RCTs are recommended to further examine the efficacy of this manualized parent training approach.
Abstract

Keywords:
AutismAutism spectrum disordersBedtime problemsParent trainingSleepSleep disturbancesSleep problems

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