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- Title
Do children with autism spectrum disorder have impaired sleep patterns?
- Authors
Memari, A.; Hafizi, S.
- Abstract
Introduction Literature has emerged to offer contradictory findings about sleep disturbances in autistic population and there is still insufficient data for the background and associations of sleep problems (e.g. demographic variables, severity of autism and comorbidities) in autism research and little attention has been paid to autism specific factors. Objectives This study seeks to add further evidence on sleep patterns specific to autistic children and help answer some of the questions in this field in a population with a different culture (Middle East). Methods Eighty-six children and adolescents with autism were enrolled. Parents were asked to provide medication history and other comorbidities. Behavior problems were assessed via autism treatment evaluation checklist. Sleep diary forms was completed by parents to record children nocturnal sleep over a 7-day period and in times in which Actigraphy™ were taken off. Moreover, we used GT3X monitor Actigraph™ to assess sleep problems. Results The T -test analysis for sleep minuets revealed that females had slept marginally more minutes than males ( P = 0.05). T -test analysis showed no significant difference in sleep parameters between those using and not using any psychotropic agents. Comorbidities analysis showed that children with comorbid conditions slept more ( P = 0.01), went to bed later ( P = 0.03) and had more number of awakening ( P < 0.001) than participants without comorbid conditions. Sleep minuets were correlated with deficit in sensory cognitive awareness ( r = 0.236, P = 0.035). Behavioural deficit and number of awakening ( r = 0.246, P = 0.028) were correlated significantly. Conclusion Our overall findings showed the association of sleep problems and behavioral deficit and comorbidities in autism.
- Subjects
AUTISM spectrum disorders in children; PSYCHIATRIC drugs; SLEEP disorders in children; AUTISM research; COGNITIVE ability; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
European Psychiatry, 2016, Vol 33, pS142
- ISSN
0924-9338
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.196