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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
Published on: April 7, 2020
Sleep and daytime behavior in individuals with Christianson Syndrome
Reut Gruber1, Samantha Scholes2, Armando Bertone3
1Attention, Behavior and Sleep Laboratory, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Background:
The objectives of this study were to: 1) characterize the sleep behaviors and symptoms of individuals with Christianson Syndrome (CS) by means of validated questionnaires; and 2) determine their associations with daytime emotional and behavioral symptoms in this population.
Methods:
Participants included 16 boys genetically diagnosed with CS, between 2.5 and 40 years of age (M = 14.5 ± 8.08). Parents completed questionnaires regarding the sleep, daytime behavior, and health of their child.
Results:
Of the participants, 31% did not obtain the recommended amount of sleep for their age, 43% experienced a prolonged sleep latency, and 88% had a clinical or sub-clinical score for at least one subscale of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Specific problems detected included insomnia, sleep-wake transition disorders, periodic limb movements in sleep, and sleep related breathing disorders. About half of the participants manifested emotional and behavioral problems at clinical levels. Higher levels of sleep disturbances were associated with higher levels of behavioral and emotional daytime symptoms.
Conclusions:
Sleep problems are common in individuals with CS and are associated with daytime behavioral and emotional symptoms.
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