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Randomized controlled trial of melatonin for children with autistic spectrum disorders and sleep problems
Author(s) -
Garstang J.,
Wallis M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00616.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , placebo , medicine , sleep onset latency , randomized controlled trial , confidence interval , crossover study , sleep (system call) , autism , population , pediatrics , insomnia , psychiatry , sleep disorder , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , computer science , operating system
Background Melatonin is often used for autistic children with sleep disorders, despite a lack of published evidence in this population. Methods A randomized, placebo‐controlled double‐blind crossover trial of melatonin was undertaken in 11 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Results Seven children completed the trial. Sleep latency was 2.6 h [95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.28–2.93] baseline, 1.91 h (95% CI 1.78–2.03) with placebo and 1.06 h (95% CI 0.98–1.13) with melatonin. Wakings per night were 0.35 (95% CI 0.18–0.53) baseline, 0.26 (95% CI 0.20–0.34) with placebo and 0.08 (95% CI 0.04–0.12) with melatonin. Total sleep duration was 8.05 h (95% CI 7.65–8.44) baseline, 8.75 h (95% CI 8.56–8.98) with placebo and 9.84 h (95% CI 9.68–9.99) with melatonin. Conclusions Although the study was small owing to recruitment difficulties, it still provides evidence of effectiveness of melatonin in children with sleep difficulties and ASD, which we predict a larger study would confirm.