A new study has highlighted the benefits of behavioural interventions for sleep disruptions in children with neurodevelopmental and medical conditions, offering a potential alternative to pharmaceutical treatments. The systematic review and meta-analysis, which examined data from 15 randomised controlled trials, found that non-medical strategies could significantly improve sleep satisfaction and reduce bedtime resistance in affected children.
Sleep disruptions are common in children with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and various medical conditions, yet they are often overlooked in intervention research. The study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, evaluated behavioural treatments including parent training, sleep hygiene education, and relaxation strategies. The findings suggest that these approaches can improve sleep quality and even reduce symptoms related to neurodevelopmental conditions.
The research analysed data from 1,374 participants, with a particular focus on how these interventions influenced sleep patterns. One of the key findings was that while improvements in sleep satisfaction and bedtime resistance were observed immediately after treatment, sustained improvements were primarily seen in sleep satisfaction. Parent-reported measures of sleep duration showed positive changes at follow-up, although objective measures such as actigraphy did not confirm these findings.
The lack of adverse effects reported in the included studies further supports the safety of behavioural interventions. Unlike pharmaceutical treatments, which can have side effects, these interventions focus on modifying sleep-related behaviours and creating a more structured bedtime routine. This aligns with recommendations from paediatric sleep experts, who advocate for non-medical strategies as a first-line treatment for insomnia and related sleep problems.
Despite the promising results, the study authors emphasised the need for more rigorous research. The review found that many studies had relatively small sample sizes and lacked diversity in participant backgrounds. Most participants were male and white, limiting the generalisability of the findings. The authors recommended that future research should prioritise larger, more representative samples and consider factors such as socioeconomic status and environmental influences on sleep health.
Another limitation noted in the study was the variability in follow-up periods. Some interventions showed immediate benefits, but their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. The length of follow-up ranged from two to twelve months, making it difficult to determine whether improvements in sleep health are sustained over time. Researchers suggested that future trials should incorporate longer follow-up periods to assess the durability of these interventions.
Children with medical conditions were also underrepresented in the research, despite high rates of sleep disturbances in this population. While neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD were the primary focus, medical conditions including epilepsy, cancer, and type 1 diabetes were less frequently studied. Given the prevalence of sleep disruptions in children with chronic illnesses, the authors highlighted the need for more targeted interventions for these groups.
This article was written by Psychreg News Team from www.psychreg.org
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