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Melatonin treatment for sleep disorders in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: an observational study
Author(s) -
Ross Caroline,
Davies Paul,
Whitehouse William
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2002.tb00821.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , observational study , sleep disorder , medicine , pediatrics , neurology , sleep (system call) , adverse effect , outpatient clinic , epilepsy , psychiatry , physical therapy , insomnia , computer science , operating system
The study aim was to quantify melatonin‐associated improvement in sleep by means of a parent‐completed sleep diary during routine outpatient activity. An investigation into sleep disturbance was made at neurology outpatient appointments. Those parents who identified a problem were asked to complete a sleep diary, after which treatment was initiated. The first week of the diary was completed before treatment, the second when established on the maximum dose of melatonin required. Forty‐nine patients (26 males, 23 females) aged from one to 13 years, were treated between 1997 and 1998: 28 of these returned interpretable diaries. In a further 18 patients, an assessment could be made of the usefulness of the treatment. Patients were fairly typical of those attending a tertiary centre, the most common primary diagnosis being epilepsy (n=26). Only seven patients were visually impaired. Of the 46 patients who were assessed, 34 showed an improvement. No adverse effects were attributed to the treatment.