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Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study on Clinical Correlates and Parental

Berloco Bianca1,2, Guerrera Silvia1, Fucà Elisa1

  • 1Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 31, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Insomnia affects one-third of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), leading to more behavioral issues and parental stress. Early evaluation and intervention for sleep problems in ASD are crucial for improving outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Insomnia is a frequent comorbidity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Understanding the prevalence and impact of insomnia in this population is critical for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of insomnia in a cohort of children with ASD.
  • To examine the relationship between insomnia and cognitive level, adaptive behavior, parental stress, emotional problems, and ASD symptom severity.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional cohort study involving 270 children diagnosed with ASD.
  • Utilized the Pediatric Sleep Clinical Global Impression Scale to assess insomnia.
  • Correlated sleep problems with various clinical and behavioral measures.

Main Results:

  • Approximately one-third of children with ASD experienced insomnia.
  • Insomnia was significantly associated with lower adaptive behaviors.
  • Higher levels of parental stress and increased behavioral and emotional problems were linked to insomnia in children with ASD.

Conclusions:

  • Insomnia is a prevalent issue in children with ASD with significant clinical correlates.
  • Evaluating and treating insomnia in children with ASD may alleviate associated challenges and reduce parental burden.
  • Targeted interventions for sleep disturbances are recommended for this population.

Keywords:
Adaptive behaviorsExternalizing symptomsInternalizing symptomsSleep

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