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Sleep disturbances in autistic children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized

Cristina Vargas1, Daniela Paoletti2, Simona De Stasio2

  • 1University of Valencia, Spain.

Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice
|February 19, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Non-pharmacological interventions effectively improve sleep in autistic children and adolescents. These autism sleep solutions enhance sleep quality and duration, offering safer alternatives to medication.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Sleep issues negatively impact development, daily functioning, and overall well-being in autistic youth.
  • Existing treatments often focus on pharmacological interventions, which may not be suitable for all cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for improving sleep in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability.
  • To synthesize findings from existing research on non-pharmacological sleep strategies for this population.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 11 studies investigating non-pharmacological treatments for sleep problems in autistic children and adolescents.
  • Analysis focused on interventions targeting sleep parameters such as sleep duration, quality, and sleep onset latency.

Main Results:

  • Non-pharmacological interventions demonstrated significant improvements in various sleep parameters.
  • Key findings include increased total sleep time and enhanced sleep quality.
  • A notable outcome was the reduction in the time required to fall asleep.

Conclusions:

  • Non-pharmacological approaches are effective for managing sleep difficulties in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability.
  • These interventions provide valuable, safer alternatives when medication is not feasible.
  • Physicians and specialists can utilize these targeted solutions for improved sleep management in this population.

Keywords:
autismbehavioral/psychological interventionsmeta-analysisphysical activity interventionssleep problemssomatosensory interventionssystematic review

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