Dataset Information

Disturbances of Continuous Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Account for Behavioral Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ABSTRACT: Sleep disorders are among the most common comorbidities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and subjectively defined sleep disturbances have been related to ASD symptom severity. However, no study has investigated the differential impact of objectively measured sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances on behavioral difficulties in this population. Fifty-two children with ASD aged 3-10 years underwent assessments of sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythms objectively with actigraphy and subjectively with the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Behavioral difficulties were assessed using the ABC-C. Group comparison analyses were used to compare sleep and circadian rhythm parameters of children with higher and lower behavioral difficulties and dominance analysis to rank predictors and address multicollinearity. Children with high irritability had a shorter continuous sleep period compared to those with lower irritability (-60 min, p = 0.04), as well as those with high stereotypic behaviors compared to children with less stereotypies (-75 min, p = 0.006). Objective circadian and sleep disturbances accounted together for, respectively, 17%, 18% and 36% of the variance in social withdrawal, irritability and stereotypic behaviors. The identification of both sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances as explanatory factors for behavioral difficulties warrants their inclusion in the existing behavioral management strategies for children with ASD.

SUBMITTER: Yavuz-Kodat E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7356341 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Disturbances of Continuous Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Account for Behavioral Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Yavuz-Kodat Enise E Reynaud Eve E Geoffray Marie-Maude MM Limousin Nadège N Franco Patricia P Bonnet-Brilhault Frédérique F Bourgin Patrice P Schroder Carmen M CM

Journal of clinical medicine 20200624 6

Sleep disorders are among the most common comorbidities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and subjectively defined sleep disturbances have been related to ASD symptom severity. However, no study has investigated the differential impact of objectively measured sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances on behavioral difficulties in this population. Fifty-two children with ASD aged 3-10 years underwent assessments of sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythms objectively with actigraphy ...[more]

PMID: 32599848

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceSleep disturbances and mental health problems are highly comorbid and bidirectionally correlated across childhood. The association between the natural history of sleep disturbances and the transition of mental health problems has not been quantified.ObjectiveTo examine the association between the natural history of sleep disturbances and resolved and incident emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBDs).Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study used data from the Shanghai Children's Health, Education and Lifestyle Evaluation-Preschool (SCHEDULE-P), a prospective and population-based longitudinal cohort study of children enrolled in preschools in Shanghai, China, from November 10 to 24, 2016. A total of 20 324 children aged 3 to 4 years were recruited from the junior class of 191 kindergartens, of whom 17 233 (84.8%) participated in the 2-year follow-up. A multilevel regression model was used to evaluate the association between the development of sleep disturbances and the occurrence of resolved and incident EBDs. The data analysis spanned from August 4, 2021, to October 31, 2023.ExposuresSleep disturbances were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire; EBDs were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.Main outcomes and measuresOccurrence of incident and resolved EBDs at the 2-year follow-up.ResultsThe cohort included 17 182 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 3.73 (0.29) years at enrollment; 52.0% were boys. The prevalence of EBDs at school entry and graduation years was 27.8% and 18.7%, respectively, while the prevalence of sleep disturbances was 41.3% and 31.5%, respectively. Among those with EBDs at the entry year, 35.0% maintained stability in the graduation year, while sleep disturbances were stable in 50.0% of those with sleep disturbances. After controlling for confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for resolved EBDs was lower in the incident sleep disturbance (ISD) group (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.41-0.62]; P < .001) and stable sleep disturbance (SSD) group (OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.40-0.56]; P < .001) compared with the group with no sleep disturbances. The ORs for incident EBDs among the ISD group (OR, 2.58 [95% CI, 2.22-3.01]; P < .001) and SSD group (OR, 2.29, [95% CI, 1.98-2.64]; P < .001) were higher than among the group with no sleep disturbances.Conclusions and relevanceIn this prospective cohort study, the natural history of sleep disturbances among preschool-aged children was associated with both resolved and incident EBDs. Routine screening and precise intervention for sleep disturbances may benefit the psychosocial well-being of this population.

Project description:Background: A compelling number of studies, conducted in both children and adults, have reported an association between sleep disturbances/circadian sleep alterations and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the data are sparse and the nature of this link is still unclear. The present review aimed to systematically collect the literature data relevant on sleep disturbances and circadian sleep dysrhythmicity related to ASD across all ages and to provide an integrative theoretical framework of their association. Methods: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases was conducted from November 2018 to February 2019. The search strategies used were MeSH headings and keywords for "sleep-wake circadian rhythms" OR "circadian sleep disorders" OR "sleep-wake pattern" OR "sleep disorders" OR "melatonin" AND "autism spectrum disorder" OR "autism". Results: One hundred and three studies were identified, 15 regarded circadian sleep dysrhythmicity, 74 regarded sleep disturbances, and 17 regarded melatonin alterations in children and adults with ASD. Our findings suggested that autistic subjects frequently present sleep disturbances in particular short sleep duration, low sleep quality/efficiency, and circadian sleep desynchronization such as delayed phases and/or eveningness. Sleep disturbances and circadian sleep alterations have been related to the severity of autistic symptoms. Genetic studies have shown polymorphisms in circadian CLOCK genes and in genes involved in melatonin pathways in subjects with ASD. Conclusions: Sleep disturbances and circadian sleep alterations are frequent in subjects with autistic symptoms. These subjects have shown polymorphisms in clock genes expression and in genes involved in melatonin production. The impairment of circadian sleep regulation may increase the individual's vulnerability to develop symptoms of ASD by altering the sleep regulation in toto, which plays a key role in normal brain development. Even though controversies and "research gaps" are present in literature at this point, we may hypothesize a bidirectional relation between circadian sleep dysfunction and ASD. In particular, circadian sleep dysrhythmicity may predispose to develop ASD symptoms and vice versa within a self-reinforcing feedback loop. By targeting sleep disturbances and circadian sleep dysrhythmicity, we may improve treatment strategies for both children and adults with ASD.

Dataset Information

Disturbances of Continuous Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Account for Behavioral Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Publications

Disturbances of Continuous Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Account for Behavioral Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets