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Sleep disorders in children
1Department of Psychology, St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131-1395.
Insights
Pediatric sleep disorders, including dyssomnias and parasomnias, are common but not fully understood. This review examines childhood sleep issues, highlighting research gaps and future study directions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sleep medicine
- Child psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Sleep problems are prevalent in children, ranging from transient issues to those significantly impacting well-being.
- Childhood sleep disorders are broadly categorized into dyssomnias (sleep initiation/maintenance difficulties, excessive sleepiness) and parasomnias (disruptions after sleep onset).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on pediatric dyssomnias and parasomnias.
- To identify methodological limitations in existing research on childhood sleep disorders.
- To propose future research directions in pediatric sleep medicine.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on pediatric sleep disorders.
- Analysis of classification and characteristics of dyssomnias and parasomnias in children.
- Discussion of research limitations and future research needs.
Main Results:
- Childhood sleep disorders are common, with varying impacts on functioning.
- Dyssomnias and parasomnias represent distinct categories of pediatric sleep disturbances.
- Significant knowledge gaps and methodological limitations exist in current research.
Conclusions:
- Further research is crucial to better understand and address pediatric sleep disorders.
- Addressing methodological limitations will enhance the quality of future studies.
- Improved understanding can lead to better interventions for children's sleep problems.
Abstract:
Many children experience some type of sleep problem. Often, these are transient problems with no long-lasting sequelae. But in certain cases, sleep problems may significantly impact on functioning and well-being. Sleep disorders in children can be classified into two major categories. Dyssomnias include those disorders that result in difficulty either initiating or maintaining sleep or involve excessive sleepiness. Parasomnias are disorders that disrupt sleep after it has been initiated but do not result in complaints of insomnia or excessive sleepiness. Even though sleep disorders in children are common, not enough is known. This article reviews the dyssomnias and parasomnias experienced by children, discusses methodological limitations of the studies reviewed, and presents future directions for research in this field.