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Insomnia: the Sleeping Giant of Pediatric Public Health

Emily Badin1, Cynthia Haddad1, Jess Parker Shatkin2

  • 1The Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, One Park Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA.

Current Psychiatry Reports
|March 20, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric insomnia significantly impacts youth and families, often going untreated. Behavioral therapies are recommended first-line treatments, with melatonin as a second-line option.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Pediatric insomnia is widespread, affecting children's academic, emotional, and social development.
  • It frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated, or is managed with non-FDA-approved medications.
  • Untreated insomnia poses significant risks to healthy development in youth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review sleep physiology in children and adolescents.
  • To outline current and recommended assessment and treatment strategies for pediatric insomnia.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for managing pediatric sleep disturbances.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
  • Existing research on pediatric sleep physiology, assessment, and treatment was analyzed.
  • Evidence for various treatment modalities was evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Medications are often used but lack sufficient evidence for efficacy and safety in pediatric insomnia.
  • Behavioral interventions, including cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and sleep hygiene, are effective first-line treatments.
  • Melatonin may be considered as a second-line treatment option.

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive assessment and evidence-based treatment are crucial for pediatric insomnia.
  • Behavioral therapies should be prioritized over pharmacotherapy for initial treatment.
  • Addressing pediatric insomnia is vital for the well-being of children, adolescents, and their families.

Keywords:
AdolescentChildrenCognitive behavior therapy for insomniaPediatric insomniaSleep

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