Study Suggests Melatonin a Treatment for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism

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Study Suggests Melatonin a Treatment for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

By: Carin Yavorcik

Significant improvements in sleep observed

A study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

determined that over-the-counter melatonin medication can shorten the length of

time it takes for children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Fragile X

Syndrome (FXS) or both to fall asleep at the beginning of the night.

Results indicate that children who received over-the-counter melatonin

treatments experienced significant improvements in total night sleep durations,

sleep latency times and sleep-onset times. Mean sleep duration was longer on

melatonin than a placebo by 21 minutes, sleep-onset latency was shorter by 28

minutes and sleep-onset time was earlier by 42 minutes.

Authors indicate that sleep problems are reported in up to 89 percent of

children with autism and 77 percent of children with FXS. Dyssomnia (difficulty

falling asleep and frequent nighttime awakenings) is among the most commonly

reported problems. Researchers hypothesize that difficulty sleeping in these

children is increased due to abnormal levels of melatonin, a natural hormone

secreted from the pineal gland that is believed to promote sleep at night.

The study gathered information from 12 children between the ages of 2 and 15.25

years. Sleep quality and quantity were measured both objectively and

subjectively.

Participants were given a two-week supply of either melatonin or a placebo.

After they completed the two-week dosage, they were then crossed over to the

alternate treatment for an additional two weeks. All participants were assessed

for autism and received DNA testing for the diagnosis of FXS.

Authors recommend that in addition to the use of over-the-counter melatonin

supplements, behavior therapies and sleep hygiene practices should be used to

manage sleep problems in children with autism and FXS.

More information about over-the-counter use of melatonin is available from the

AASM for patients and the public at:

http://sleepeducation.com/Article.aspx?id=794.

Adapted from an American Academy of Sleep Medicine press release.

 

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" I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had

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