Desperate for Sleep: Exploring Parental Perceptions of Melatonin Use Among Adolescents With Neurodevelopmental...

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Adolescent Sleep Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Sleep disturbances are prevalent in adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Sleep impairments can exacerbate core NDD symptoms and negatively impact child and family functioning.
• Exogenous melatonin is a potential therapeutic option for improving sleep in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parents' experiences with sleep disturbances, sleep-related impairments, and the use of exogenous melatonin in adolescents diagnosed with NDDs.
• To understand parental perceptions of melatonin's efficacy, safety, and usage patterns in their children.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 26 parents of adolescents (11-18 years) with ASD and/or ADHD.
• Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.

Main Results:

• All parents reported pre-existing sleep onset difficulties in their children.
• Parents described significant sleep-related impairments affecting child behavior, cognition, and family well-being.
• Parents perceived melatonin as a safe, natural, and effective intervention, reporting subjective improvements in sleep latency, despite common brand and dosage adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Melatonin appears to be a subjectively safe and effective intervention for sleep disturbances in adolescents with NDDs.
• Inconsistencies in over-the-counter melatonin products necessitate careful patient education regarding brand and dosage variations.
• Further research is needed to standardize adolescent sleep interventions and validate the long-term safety and efficacy of exogenous melatonin.