Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
08:06
Eye Movement Monitoring of Memory
Published on: August 15, 2010
15.2K
L-Tryptophan As Treatment for Pediatric Non-Rapid Eye Movement Parasomnia
Louis T van Zyl1, Sharon A Chung2, Azmeh Shahid1,2,3
11 Youthdale Child and Adolescent Sleep Centre , Toronto, Canada .
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
|May 10, 2018
Summary
L-tryptophan significantly improved parasomnia symptoms in children. This study highlights that childhood parasomnias are serious, impacting sleep architecture and mental well-being, and supports L-tryptophan as a treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Parasomnias are prevalent in childhood, yet established treatments are lacking.
- Childhood parasomnias can significantly affect a child's sleep quality and psychological well-being.
- Understanding the impact of parasomnias on sleep architecture is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of L-tryptophan in managing childhood parasomnias.
- To investigate the effects of parasomnia on children's sleep architecture.
- To assess subjective psychological and sleep-related symptoms in children with parasomnia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart analysis of 165 children (3-18 years) diagnosed with primary parasomnia.
- Comparison of outcomes between children treated with L-tryptophan and an untreated group.
- Utilized polysomnography and validated questionnaires for symptom and sleep assessment.
Main Results:
- 84% of children treated with L-tryptophan showed symptom improvement, versus 47% in the untreated group (p < 0.001).
- Children with parasomnia exhibited altered sleep architecture compared to age-related norms.
- Subjective reports indicated increased fatigue and depressive symptoms in children with parasomnia.
Conclusions:
- L-tryptophan treatment offers a favorable outcome for childhood parasomnias.
- Childhood parasomnias are not benign, affecting sleep architecture and mental health.
- Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric parasomnias are essential for improving patient outcomes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
00:51Anatomical Movements
16.3K
Anatomical movements refer to the various actions or motions that can be performed by the body's joints and muscles. These movements are described using specific terms to provide a standardized way of discussing and understanding the range of motion at different joints.
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...
16.3K
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
6.6K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
6.6K
01:18Fluid Movement Between Compartments
4.1K
The force applied by fluids against a surface, known as hydrostatic pressure, initiates the transfer of fluid among different compartments. Within our blood vessels, the blood's hydrostatic pressure is a result of the heart's pumping action. At the arteriolar end of capillaries, hydrostatic pressure (capillary blood pressure) exceeds the opposing colloid osmotic pressure created primarily by plasma proteins like albumin. This discrepancy in pressure propels plasma and nutrients from the...
4.1K
01:27Movement Joints in Buildings
360
Movement joints in buildings are essential design elements that accommodate inevitable motions caused by various factors such as temperature changes, moisture content variations, and structural deflections. These motions, if not considered in design and construction, can lead to unsightly or dangerous damage. Movement joints are incorporated in different forms to manage these stresses and allow materials to move without causing distress.
The simplest type of movement joints, working joints, are...
The simplest type of movement joints, working joints, are...
360
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
274
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
274
01:10Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
3.6K
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
3.6K