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Effect of melatonin on sleep–wake rhythm: The sleep diary of an autistic male
Author(s) -
Hayashi Etsuko
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2000.00725.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , morning , sleep (system call) , rhythm , psychology , circadian rhythm , autism , audiology , medicine , psychiatry , neuroscience , computer science , operating system
This study reports on melatonin treatment in autism. A 14‐year‐old autistic male with severe mental retardation was given melatonin at a dose of 6 mg at 9:00 pm (C1) or 11:00 pm (C2). His parents kept a sleep diary. In C1, he often experienced early morning waking and fragmented night sleep but in C2, night sleep was prolonged and sleep–wake rhythm was improved. Suitable medication time, therefore, improved the sleep–wake rhythm.