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Targeting Co-Sleeping in Children With Anxiety Disorders Using a Modified Bedtime Pass Intervention: A Case Series
Ariel Ravid1, Elizabeth Lagbas1, Madeline Johnson1
1Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle.
Behavior Therapy
|February 24, 2021
Summary
A modified bedtime pass procedure helped two children with anxiety disorders stop co-sleeping and sleep independently. This intervention addresses common sleep problems in anxious children, offering a potential solution for parents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Children with anxiety disorders frequently experience sleep problems, including co-sleeping and resistance to independent sleep.
- Extinction-based behavioral sleep interventions are effective for bedtime resistance but face implementation challenges due to parent discomfort.
- The bedtime pass intervention was designed to mitigate extinction bursts in childhood sleep interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a modified bedtime pass procedure for treating co-sleeping and bedtime resistance in children with anxiety disorders.
- To assess the effectiveness of this intervention in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- A changing criterion, single-subject design was employed.
- The modified bedtime pass procedure was implemented with two children diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
- Data were collected to track transitions from co-sleeping to independent sleep.
Main Results:
- Both children successfully transitioned from co-sleeping to sleeping independently.
- The intervention required relatively limited nighttime contact with parents.
- The modified bedtime pass procedure proved effective for co-sleeping and bedtime resistance in anxious children.
Conclusions:
- The modified bedtime pass procedure is effective for addressing co-sleeping and bedtime resistance in children with anxiety disorders.
- This intervention offers a viable clinical option for managing comorbid sleep issues in anxious youth.
- Findings extend the utility of the bedtime pass to clinical populations and specific sleep problems like co-sleeping.
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