Sleep Issues Common in Preschoolers With Psychiatric Disorders

the Psychiatry Advisor take:

Although sleep problems are common in young children with psychiatric disorders, they may be underdiagnosed.

John Boekamp, PhD, of Bradley Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, and colleagues, looked at 183 young children admitted to an early childhood psychiatric day treatment program to determine the nature and prevalence of sleep disorders, including Sleep Onset Insomnia and Night Waking Insomnia.

Overall, 41% of the toddlers and preschoolers met diagnostic criteria for a sleep disorder, the researchers reported in Child Psychiatry & Human Development. The most common sleep problems in this population are going to bed, falling asleep, and frequent night awakenings.

Sleep problems were most common in those with disruptive behavior, attention, anxiety, and mood problems, the researchers added.

Treating sleep disorders is important in young children as not enough sleep is associated with daytime sleepiness, irritability and hyperactivity, and fatigue can exacerbate behavioral problems.

“Essentially, these young children might be caught in a cycle, with sleep disruption affecting their psychiatric symptoms and psychiatric symptoms affecting their sleep-wake organization,” Boekamp said, according to Psych Central.