Sleep in Angelman syndrome: A review of evidence

Sleep problems are reported to be extremely prevalent in individuals with developmental disabilities. The consensus guidelines for Angelman syndrome (AS) consider abnormal sleep-wake cycles and diminished need for sleep as associated features. We report an integrative research review and a meta-analysis of studies with sleep as the primary aim of investigation in an AS sample. 14 studies met eligibility criteria with half of them being surveys. Thirteen of the 17 conceptually formed sleep disorder item-groups showed to be significant for individuals with AS. There is evidence that arousal during sleep, somnolence and possibly short sleep duration are the primary sleep problems in individuals with AS. According to the results of this review and meta-analyses, there is clear evidence for sleep problems in individuals with AS. Individual effect sizes remain overall small, but nevertheless findings suggest disorders of arousal and sleepiness to be distinctive. In light of these findings, other sleep complaints in individuals with AS should be carefully examined. Consistent standards for research on sleep in individuals with AS are critical for new lines of investigation.