Abstract
SUMMARYSleep is essential for survival and humans spend approximately one-third of their life asleep. Adequate sleep is needed to maintain both physical and psychological health. Routinely getting less than the recommended amount of sleep for your age can have profound negative effects on health, such as increasing the likeliness of psychiatric illness, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. In children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, the prevalence of sleep disorders is significantly higher than in the general population. Given the relationship between sleep and psychiatric disorders, it is essential that psychiatrists have knowledge of the principles of sleep medicine. In this article, we focus on the common sleep disorders found in those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and give an overview of screening, diagnosis and management.
Highlights
In adults as well as children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a functional analysis of behaviours that challenge followed by a function-based intervention plan is recommended (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2012)
A recent systematic review of non-pharmacological interventions for non-respiratory sleep disorders in children with neurodisabilities identified that, despite clinical guidance recommending parent-directed interventions as the first approach to managing sleep disorders, there is a lack of high-quality evidence assessing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for these populations (Scantlebury 2018)
12.00 h related to insomnia, to improve sleep latency and improve sleep efficiency and total sleep duration (Jenabi 2019). This observation was replicated in a systematic review of pharmacological treatments for sleep disorders in children, which concluded that melatonin was useful in improving sleep latency, sleep duration and wake time after sleep onset at least in the short term, with children with comorbid ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders (McDonagh 2019)
Summary
Assessment Comprehensive clinical history, onset, nature, duration, frequency and impact of the sleep-related symptoms Contributing factors:mental illness, physical illness, medication, pain, behaviours etc. In the management of insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders in individuals with ADHD or ASD, lifestyle factors, including exercise and diet, should be considered, followed by consideration of strategies to ensure adherence to treatment plans (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2018).
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