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Solomon S, Elbedour L, Meiri G, Michaelovski A, Sadaka Y, Ilan M, Faroy M, Dinstein I, Menashe I. Sleep disturbances are associated with greater healthcare utilization in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:29. [PMID: 38849752 PMCID: PMC11157737 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09550-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are associated with the severity of co-occurring symptoms. This study's aim was to examine the extent of healthcare utilization and clinical outcomes associated with sleep disturbances in children with ASD. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective, cross-sectional study of 541 children with ASD from the Azrieli National Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (ANCAN) whose parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Children with a total CSHQ score ≥ 48 were defined as having sleep disturbances. Sociodemographic characteristics, ASD diagnostic measures, chronic co-occurring conditions, medication usage, hospitalizations, visits to the emergency room (ER), and visits to specialists were compared in ASD children with and without sleep disturbances. Multivariate logistic regression models were then used to assess the independent association of sleep disturbances with clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization. RESULTS Of the 541 children with ASD, 257 (47.5%) had sleep disturbances. Children with sleep disturbances exhibited higher rates of multiple (≥ 3) co-occurring conditions (19.1% vs. 12.7%; p = 0.0414) and prescribed medications (45.5% vs. 32.7%; p = 0.0031) than other children. Finally, ASD children with sleep disturbances were 1.72 and 2.71 times more likely to visit the ER and be hospitalized than their counterparts (aOR = 1.72; 99%CI = 1.01-2.95; and aOR = 2.71; 99%CI = 1.10-6.67, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that sleep disturbances are associated with greater healthcare utilization among children with ASD. Further studies could examine whether treating sleep disturbances in children with ASD yields additional clinical benefits beyond improvements in sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Solomon
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Leena Elbedour
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Gal Meiri
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Preschool Psychiatric Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Analya Michaelovski
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Child Development Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yair Sadaka
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Child Development Center, Ministry of Health, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michal Ilan
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Preschool Psychiatric Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michal Faroy
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Preschool Psychiatric Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ilan Dinstein
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Psychology Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Cognition and Brain Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neurosciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Idan Menashe
- Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel.
- Zlotowski Center for Neurosciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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Sadikova E, Soland J, Menezes M, Mazurek M. Impact of adverse childhood experiences and family resilience on sleep duration in autistic children. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024:13623613241235880. [PMID: 38807297 DOI: 10.1177/13623613241235880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic children are more likely to have sleep difficulties and to experience adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences can include parental divorce, bullying, or witnessing violence. We also know that children in families who are resilient (e.g. families who are connected, work together, and help each other) are less impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Our study examined whether there was a relationship between adverse childhood experiences and sleep duration in autistic children. We also wanted to find out whether family resilience protects from the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences on sleep duration. We used data from 3247 parent surveys about their children that we got from the National Survey of Children's Health. We found that children with adverse childhood experiences are more likely to get less sleep. We also found that children with resilient families were more likely to get more sleep. Our results show that family resilience helps weaken the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and sleep, so it is important to help families build resilience.
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Berenguer C, Rosa E, De Stasio S, Choque Olsson N. Sleep quality relates to language impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability. Sleep Med 2024; 117:99-106. [PMID: 38522116 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to identify sleep quality profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to compare these profiles with those of typically developing (TD) children, and to verify whether there are differences between them in terms of language skills. METHODS We evaluated the sleep quality and language skills of 47 children with ASD without intellectual disability (ID) and 32 children with TD. Using a hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified two sleep quality ASD profiles (poor and good). We then performed a series of MANCOVAs and ANOVAs to compare the sleep quality and language skills of the two ASD clusters and the TD group. RESULTS A main group effect (TD, "poor" cluster, and "good" cluster) was found in the total sleep quality and all its dimensions. Significant differences were revealed between the "good" and "poor" clusters in the total structural language score (F1,46 = 10.75, p < 0.001) and three of its subscales (speech: F1,46 = 9.19, p < 0.001; syntax, F1,46 = 8.61, p = 0.001; coherence: F1,46 = 11.36, p < 0.001); the total pragmatic language score (F1,46 = 7.00, p = 0.001) and three of its subscales (inappropriate initiation: F1,46 = 8.02, p = 0.001; use of context: F1,46 = 8.07, p = 0.001; nonverbal communication: F1,46 = 7.35, p = 0.001); and the social relations score (F1,46 = 9.97, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Sleep quality in children with ASD (especially a subgroup) is worse than in children with TD. There is an association between sleep quality and language skills, both at the pragmatic and structural levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Berenguer
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, ERI-Lectura Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy University of Valencia, Blasco Ibanez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Eva Rosa
- Department of Basic Psychology, ERI-Lectura, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Valencia, Blasco Ibanez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Simona De Stasio
- Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, Piazza Delle Vaschette, 101, 00193, Rome, Italy.
| | - Nora Choque Olsson
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Yang Y, Chen D, Cai K, Zhu L, Shi Y, Dong X, Sun Z, Qiao Z, Yang Y, Zhang W, Mao H, Chen A. Effects of mini-basketball training program on social communication impairments and regional homogeneity of brain functions in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2024; 16:92. [PMID: 38659073 PMCID: PMC11040976 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-00885-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social communication impairments (SCI) is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is marked by challenges in social interaction. Although physical exercise has been shown to improve SCI, this finding has not been supported by comprehensive scientific evidence. Existing research has established a strong link between the SCI in children with ASD and abnormalities in regional homogeneity (ReHo). Therefore, investigating the effects of physical exercise on SCI and Reho in patients with ASD may help to elucidate the neurological mechanisms involved. METHODS The present study included 30 preschool children diagnosed with ASD, with 15 participants in each group (experimental and control). The experimental group underwent a 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) based on routine behavioral rehabilitation, while the control group only received routine behavioral rehabilitation. The Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) was employed to assess SCI in both groups. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging technology was used to evaluate ReHo in both groups. RESULTS After 12-week of MBTP, significant group × time interactions were observed between the experimental and control groups in total SRS-2 scores (F = 14.514, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.341), as well as in the domains of social cognition (F = 15.620, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.358), social communication (F = 12.460, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.308), and autistic mannerisms (F = 9.970, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.263). No statistical difference was found in the scores for the social awareness subscale and social motivation subscale in the group × time interaction (all p > 0.05). The experimental group exhibited increased ReHo in the right Cerebellum_Crus1 and right parahippocampal gyrus, coupled with decreased ReHo in the left middle frontal gyrus (orbital part), left superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral), left postcentral gyrus, and right superior parietal gyrus. Furthermore, a decrease in ReHo in the left postcentral gyrus positively correlated with changes in social communication scores in SCI behaviors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our study underscores the effectiveness of a 12-week MBTP in ameliorating SCI and abnormalities in ReHo among preschool children with ASD. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial is retrospectively registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900024973; August 5, 2019).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kelong Cai
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lina Zhu
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yifan Shi
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Dong
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiyuan Sun
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiyuan Qiao
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yahui Yang
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weike Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haiyong Mao
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aiguo Chen
- College of Physical Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Dong HY, Miao CY, Xue Y, Zhang Y, Shan L, Jia FY, Du L. Sleep and internalizing problems in primary school children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03213-4. [PMID: 38637694 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03213-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internalizing and externalizing problems have received great attention, and children with ADHD exhibit high rates of comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders. This study aimed to explore the relationship between sleep and internalizing problems in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the probable mediating role of externalizing problems. METHODS A total of 203 primary school children diagnosed with ADHD for the first time were recruited for this study. Children with ADHD were evaluated by Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Internalizing problems were represented by emotional symptoms and peer problems of SDQ, and externalizing problems were represented by conduct problems and hyperactivity-inattention problems of SDQ. Multi-step linear regression analysis was used to investigate the mediating effect of externalizing problems on the relationship between sleep and internalizing problems. RESULTS Sleep in children with ADHD was associated with emotional problems in internalizing problems, and conduct problems in externalizing problems mediated the association between sleep and emotional problems. CONCLUSION For children with ADHD, when it is difficult to identify internalizing problems, especially emotional problems, we can take sleep and externalizing problems as clues to improve our clinical ability to recognize and deal with emotional problems. IMPACT 1. We first explored the possible mediating role of conduct problems between sleep and emotional problems in primary school children with ADHD. 2. When it is difficult to identify internalizing problems, especially emotional problems, we can take sleep and externalizing problems as clues to improve our clinical ability to recognize emotional problems for children with ADHD. 3. For children with ADHD with potential internalizing problems, especially emotional problems, interventions for their sleep and externalizing problems may be the possible methods to deal with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Dong
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Chun-Yue Miao
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Xue
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Ling Shan
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Fei-Yong Jia
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Lin Du
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- The Child Health Clinical Research Center of Jilin Province, Changchun, China.
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Alasmari M, Alduais A, Qasem F, Almaghlouth S, AlAmri L. Examining Language, Speech and Behaviour Characteristics: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia Using the Arabic Version of Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Third Edition. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:472. [PMID: 38671690 PMCID: PMC11049596 DOI: 10.3390/children11040472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibits diverse manifestations influenced by demographic factors. This study evaluates these variations within Saudi Arabia, aiming to investigate language, speech and behaviour characteristics across different demographics in Saudi Arabia using the Arabic Version of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Third Edition (A-GARS-3). Employing a cross-sectional design, 178 participants were stratified by developmental status (n = 124 school settings, n = 54 clinical setting), sex (Females = 77, Males =101), age (range = 3-22), and geographical region (different provinces in Saudi Arabia). The A-GARS-3 measured ASD manifestations across six subscales. The study identified significant differences in ASD manifestations by developmental status, with higher ASD likelihood and severity in clinical settings. Younger children showed more pronounced ASD characteristics, and males were slightly more likely to be diagnosed with ASD. Geographical analysis revealed regional differences in severity. The findings underline the importance of demographic considerations in ASD assessment and diagnosis, suggesting the need for age-specific and culturally sensitive approaches. The A-GARS-3 is a reliable tool for the Saudi context. Regional disparities in ASD prevalence and severity indicate a need for tailored health policies and resources across Saudi provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Alasmari
- Department of English Language and Literature, College of Arts of Letters, University of Bisha, Bisha 67714, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.); (F.Q.)
| | - Ahmed Alduais
- Department of Human Sciences (Psychology), University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Fawaz Qasem
- Department of English Language and Literature, College of Arts of Letters, University of Bisha, Bisha 67714, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.); (F.Q.)
| | - Shrouq Almaghlouth
- Department of English Language and Translation, College of Science and Theoretical Studies, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Lujain AlAmri
- Speech Pathology Division, Jeddah Institute for Speech and Hearing and Medical Rehabilitation, Jeddah 21471, Saudi Arabia;
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Harris HK, Kook M, Boedeker P, Gusick AG, Lyons-Warren AM, Goin-Kochel RP, Murali C, Berry LN, Storch EA. The Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Sleep Problems in Autistic Children with Co-occurring Anxiety. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06309-2. [PMID: 38557905 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06309-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study seeks to examine the relationship between anxiety-symptom severity and sleep behaviors in autistic children receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). METHODS We conducted a secondary-data analysis from a sample of 93 autistic youth, 4 to 14 years, participating in 24 weeks of CBT. Clinicians completed the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) and parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Abbreviated/Short Form (CSHQ-SF) at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and 3 months post-treatment. Mediation analysis evaluated the role of anxiety symptoms in mediating the effect of time in treatment on sleep. RESULTS There was a negative association between time in treatment and scores on the CSHQ-SF (b = - 3.23, SE = 0.493, t = - 6.553, p < 0.001). Increased time in treatment was associated with decreased anxiety (b = - 4.66, SE = 0.405, t = - 11.507, p < 0.001), and anxiety symptoms decreased with CSHQ-SF scores (b = 0.322, SE = 0.112, t = 2.869, p = 0.005). The indirect effect of time in treatment on CSHQ-SF scores through PARS reduction was negative, but not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Increased time in CBT was associated with decreased anxiety severity and improved sleep behaviors. Reductions in anxiety symptoms may mediate improvements in sleep problems, but larger sample sizes are necessary to explore this further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly K Harris
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics and Autism, 8080 North Stadium Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX, 77054, USA.
| | - Minjee Kook
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter Boedeker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Education, Innovation and Technology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew G Gusick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ariel M Lyons-Warren
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robin P Goin-Kochel
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Autism Program, Meyer Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chaya Murali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leandra N Berry
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Autism Program, Meyer Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eric A Storch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Sommers L, Papadopoulos N, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Sciberras E, McGillivray J, Howlin P, Rinehart N. The Connection Between Sleep Problems and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Autistic Children: A Network Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06298-2. [PMID: 38526802 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06298-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The interactions between sleep problems, autism symptoms and emotional and behavioural difficulties were explored using network analysis in 240 autistic children (mean age: 8.8 years, range 5-13 years) with moderate to severe sleep problems. Findings revealed a highly connected and interpretable network, with three separate clusters identified of the modelled variables. Depression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties were the most central variables of the network. Depression, anxiety and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns behaviours (RRBs) were the strongest bridging variables in the network model, transmitting activation both within and between other symptom clusters. The results highlight that depression and anxiety were highly connected symptoms within the network, suggesting support in these areas could be helpful, as well as future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Sommers
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
| | - Nicole Papadopoulos
- Monash Krongold Clinic, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jane McGillivray
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Patricia Howlin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Nicole Rinehart
- Monash Krongold Clinic, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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Berenguer C, Baixauli I, Rosa E, De Stasio S. Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A comparative study and effects on communication skills. Autism Res 2024; 17:355-365. [PMID: 38158389 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among children with neurodevelopmental disorders, like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hiperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The first objective of this study is to examine the differences in sleep problems between a group of children with ASD without intellectual disabilities, a group with ADHD and a typically developing (TD) group. A second objective is aimed at analyzing the effects of sleep problems and symptom severity on their communication skills. Participants were 122 children between 7 and 12 years old distributed in three groups: 32 TD children, 47 children with ASD and 43 children with ADHD, matched on age and intelligence. Parents completed different questionnaires that measured sleep disturbances and communication skills. Findings show significant differences between the clinical groups and the TD group in most types of sleep disorders. Moreover, the group with ADHD showed significantly more sleep breathing disorders and hyperhidrosis in comparison with ASD and TD, as well as more total sleep problems. In contrast to ASD, the predictive power of sleep problems on communication difficulties was greater in the group with ADHD. The results of the mediation analysis indicate that in both groups, sleep problems partially mediate the relationship between symptoms and communication. This investigation highlights the need of considering sleep disorders when assessing communication skills in ASD and ADHD, given its indirect influence in this domain. Understanding the sleep dysfunctions of both conditions and their repercussions is crucial to develop adjusted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Berenguer
- Departamento de Psicología evolutiva y de la educación, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Baixauli
- Departamento de Logopedia, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, València, Spain
| | - Eva Rosa
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Universitat de València, València, Spain
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Pattison E, Papadopoulos N, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Sciberras E, Hiscock H, Williams K, McGillivray J, Mihalopoulos C, Bellows ST, Marks D, Howlin P, Rinehart N. Randomised Controlled Trial of a Behavioural Sleep Intervention, 'Sleeping Sound', for Autistic Children: 12-Month Outcomes and Moderators of Treatment. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:442-457. [PMID: 36414853 PMCID: PMC9684935 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the sustained and moderating effects of a behavioural sleep intervention for autistic children in a randomised controlled trial. Autistic children (5-13 years) with sleep problems were randomised to the Sleeping Sound intervention or Treatment as Usual (TAU). At 12-month follow-up (n = 150), caregivers of children in the Sleeping Sound group reported greater reduction in child sleep problems compared to TAU (p < .001, effect size: - 0.4). The long-term benefits of the intervention were greater for children taking sleep medication, children of parents who were not experiencing psychological distress, and children with greater autism severity. The Sleeping Sound intervention demonstrated sustained improvements in child sleep. Identified moderators may inform treatment by indicating which subgroups may benefit from further support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Pattison
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Nicole Papadopoulos
- Krongold Clinic, School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
| | - Emma Sciberras
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Harriet Hiscock
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Monash Children's Hospital, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Jane McGillivray
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Cathrine Mihalopoulos
- Deakin Health Economics Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Susannah T Bellows
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Deborah Marks
- Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Patricia Howlin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Nicole Rinehart
- Krongold Clinic, School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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11
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Bianca B, Silvia G, Elisa F, Deny M, Giovanni V, Lino N, Stefano V. Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study on Clinical Correlates and Parental Stress. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:46-55. [PMID: 36310306 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Insomnia is one of the most common co-occurring disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this cross-sectional cohort study of 270 children with ASD was to assess the prevalence of insomnia using the Pediatric Sleep Clinical Global Impression Scale and to correlate sleep problems with cognitive level, adaptive behavior, parental stress, behavioral and emotional problems, and severity of core symptoms. Our findings revealed that one-third of children had insomnia and were related to reduced adaptive behaviors and higher levels of parental stress and behavioral and emotional problems. Insomnia must be evaluated in children with ASD to define an appropriate intervention to potentially alleviate the severity of clinical correlates and parental burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berloco Bianca
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience-Rehabilitation-Ophthalmology-Genetics-Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Guerrera Silvia
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Fucà Elisa
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Menghini Deny
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
| | - Valeri Giovanni
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Nobili Lino
- Department of Neuroscience-Rehabilitation-Ophthalmology-Genetics-Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vicari Stefano
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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12
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Wang Y, Wang F, Kong Y, Gao T, Zhu Q, Han L, Sun B, Guan L, Zhang Z, Qian Y, Xu L, Li Y, Fang H, Jiao G, Ke X. High definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the Cz improves social dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized, sham, controlled study. Autism Res 2023; 16:2035-2048. [PMID: 37695276 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the Cz of high-definition 5-channel tDCS (HD-tDCS) on social function in 4-12 years-old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study was a randomized, double-blind, pseudo-controlled trial in which 45 ASD children were recruited and divided into three groups with sex, age, and rehabilitation treatment as control variables. Each group of 15 children with ASD was randomly administered active HD-tDCS with the Cz as the central anode, active HD-tDCS with the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) as the central anode, and sham HD-tDCS with the Cz as the central anode with 14 daily sessions in 3 weeks. The Social Responsiveness Scale Chinese Version (SRS-Chinese Version) was compared 1 week after stimulation with values recorded 1 week prior to stimulation. At the end of treatment, both the anodal Cz and anodal left DLFPC tDCS decreased the measures of SRS-Chinese Version. The total score of SRS-Chinese Version decreased by 13.08%, social cognition decreased by 18.33%, and social communication decreased by 10.79%, which were significantly improved over the Cz central anode active stimulation group, especially in children with young age, and middle and low function. There was no significant change in the total score and subscale score of SRS-Chinese Version over the Cz central anode sham stimulation group. In the F3 central anode active stimulation group, the total score of SRS-Chinese Version decreased by 13%, autistic behavior decreased by 19.39%, and social communication decreased by 14.39%, which were all significantly improved. However, there was no significant difference in effect between the Cz and left DLPFC stimulation conditions. HD-tDCS of the Cz central anode may be an effective treatment for social dysfunction in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonglu Wang
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Kong
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianshu Gao
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingyao Zhu
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Han
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bei Sun
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Luyang Guan
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziyi Zhang
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxin Qian
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingxi Xu
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Li
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Fang
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gongkai Jiao
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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13
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O'Sullivan R, Bissell S, Hamilton A, Bagshaw A, Richards C. Concordance of objective and subjective measures of sleep in children with neurodevelopmental conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev 2023; 71:101814. [PMID: 37422998 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to delineate the concordance of objective and subjective measures of sleep in children with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). A systematic literature search identified 31 studies that compare objective and subjective estimates of sleep parameters in autism, ADHD or rare genetic syndromes associated with intellectual disability. The meta-analyses revealed smaller mean differences and larger correlations indicative of greater concordance for parameters associated with sleep scheduling compared to parameters associated with sleep duration and night awakenings. Relative to objective measures, subjective measures produced: 1) greater estimates of total sleep time, sleep efficiency and time in bed; and 2) lower estimates of wake after sleep onset and number of night awakenings. Subgroup analyses also revealed differences in concordance between measurement comparison types (e.g., stronger correlations between actigraphy and sleep diaries, compared to actigraphy and questionnaires) and NDC diagnostic groups. The results predominantly replicate concordance trends observed in typically-developing samples, although some NDC-specific patterns of concordance were identified. This indicates that objective and subjective sleep measures retain broadly similar properties across populations, although researchers and clinicians should be cautious of the impact of NDC-related characteristics on sleep parameter estimates. These findings should inform sleep assessment design and the interpretation of sleep parameter estimates in NDCs, increasing the rigour of sleep parameter description across research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory O'Sullivan
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham, UK.
| | - Stacey Bissell
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Anna Hamilton
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrew Bagshaw
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Caroline Richards
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham, UK
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14
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Shui AM, Lampinen LA, Richdale A, Katz T. Predicting future sleep problems in young autistic children. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:2063-2085. [PMID: 36755236 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231152963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Sleep problems are common in autistic children and negatively impact daytime functioning. A method for predicting sleep problems could help with treatment and prevention of such problems. This study aimed to determine predictors of sleep problems among young autistic children. Study participants consisted of autistic children aged 2-5 years who did not have sleep problems at a first visit (Autism Treatment Network Registry) and had sleep data available at a subsequent visit (Registry Call-Back Assessment study). Sleep problems for five study cohorts of children were defined by different methods, including parent questionnaires and parent- or clinician-report of sleep problems. We found that self-injurious behavior, sensory issues, dental problems, and lower primary caregiver education level were significant risk factors of future sleep problems. These predictors may help clinicians provide prevention or earlier treatment for children who are at risk of developing sleep problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Shui
- Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | | | | | - Terry Katz
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, USA
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15
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Dong H, Wang T, Feng J, Xue Y, Jia F. The relationship between screen time before bedtime and behaviors of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder and the mediating effects of sleep. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:635. [PMID: 37648993 PMCID: PMC10466770 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05128-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are overlapping effects of screen time and sleep on children's behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of screen time with behavior problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the probable mediating effects of sleep, in order to provide evidence for the need for clinical identification and intervention. METHODS A sample of 358 preschoolers with ASD were included. We investigated the children's basic characteristics of sex and age, ASD symptoms (ABC, CARS, and ADOS-2), neurodevelopment (GDS-C), sleep habits (CSHQ), and behavior (CBCL). Pearson correlation tests were used to determine the direct correlations among children's screen time, CBCL, and CSHQ. Linear regression analysis was used to explore whether screen time predicted total score of CBCL. Multi-step linear regression analysis was used to investigate the mediating effect of sleep on the relationship between screen time and total score of CBCL. RESULTS Screen time before bedtime was correlated with CBCL and CSHQ, which indicated that screen time before bedtime was correlated with sleep and behavior in children with ASD. Screen time before bedtime was a predictor of CBCL total score (indicating children's behavior), and CSHQ total score (indicating children's sleep habits) played a partial mediating role between screen time before bedtime and children's behavior. CONCLUSION Clinicians should support and educate parents of children with ASD, which should focus on managing screen time, especially screen time before bedtime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Dong
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Junyan Feng
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yang Xue
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Feiyong Jia
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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16
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Begum‐Ali J, Gossé LK, Mason L, Pasco G, Charman T, Johnson MH, Jones EJ. Infant sleep predicts trajectories of social attention and later autism traits. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1200-1211. [PMID: 36991307 PMCID: PMC10952761 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience sleep disturbances, but little is known about when these sleep differences emerge and how they relate to later development. METHODS We used a prospective longitudinal design in infants with a family history of ASD and/or ADHD to examine infant sleep and its relation to trajectories of attention and later neurodevelopmental disorders. We formed factors of Day and Night Sleep from parent-reported measures (including day/night sleep duration, number of naps in the day, frequency of night awakenings and sleep onset problems). We examined sleep in 164 infants at 5-, 10- and 14-months with/without a first-degree relative with ASD and/or ADHD who underwent a consensus clinical assessment for ASD at age 3. RESULTS By 14-months, infants with a first-degree relative with ASD (but not ADHD) showed lower Night Sleep scores than infants with no family history of ASD; lower Night Sleep scores in infancy were also associated with a later ASD diagnosis, decreased cognitive ability, increased ASD symptomatology at 3-years, and developing social attention (e.g., looking to faces). We found no such effects with Day Sleep. CONCLUSIONS Sleep disturbances may be apparent at night from 14-months in infants with a family history of ASD and also those with later ASD, but were not associated with a family history of ADHD. Infant sleep disturbances were also linked to later dimensional variation in cognitive and social skills across the cohort. Night Sleep and Social Attention were interrelated over the first 2 years of life, suggesting that this may be one mechanism through which sleep quality influences neurodevelopment. Interventions targeted towards supporting families with their infant's sleep problems may be useful in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannath Begum‐Ali
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Louisa K. Gossé
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Luke Mason
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Greg Pasco
- Psychology DepartmentInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tony Charman
- Psychology DepartmentInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Mark H. Johnson
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Emily J.H. Jones
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
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17
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Kim H, Kim JH, Kim J, Kim JY, Cortese S, Smith L, Koyanagi A, Radua J, Fusar-Poli P, Carvalho AF, Salazar de Pablo G, Shin JI, Cheon KA, Solmi M. Subjective and objective sleep alterations in medication-naïve children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2023; 32:e48. [PMID: 37469173 PMCID: PMC10387490 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796023000574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to summarize the evidence on sleep alterations in medication-naïve children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We systematically searched PubMed/Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases from inception through March 22, 2021. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021243881). Any observational study was included that enrolled medication-naïve children and adolescents with ASD and compared objective (actigraphy and polysomnography) or subjective sleep parameters with typically developing (TD) counterparts. We extracted relevant data such as the study design and outcome measures. The methodological quality was assessed through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A meta-analysis was carried out using the random-effects model by pooling effect sizes as Hedges' g. To assess publication bias, Egger's test and p-curve analysis were done. A priori planned meta-regression and subgroup analysis were also performed to identify potential moderators. RESULTS Out of 4277 retrieved references, 16 studies were eligible with 981 ASD patients and 1220 TD individuals. The analysis of objective measures showed that medication-naïve ASD patients had significantly longer sleep latency (Hedges' g 0.59; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.26 to 0.92), reduced sleep efficiency (Hedges' g -0.58; 95% CI -0.87 to -0.28), time in bed (Hedges' g -0.64; 95% CI -1.02 to -0.26) and total sleep time (Hedges' g -0.64; 95% CI -1.01 to -0.27). The analysis of subjective measures showed that they had more problems in daytime sleepiness (Hedges' g 0.48; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.71), sleep latency (Hedges' g 1.15; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.58), initiating and maintaining sleep (Hedges' g 0.86; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.33) and sleep hyperhidrosis (Hedges' g 0.48; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.66). Potential publication bias was detected for sleep latency, sleep period time and total sleep time measured by polysomnography. Some sleep alterations were moderated by age, sex and concurrent intellectual disability. The median NOS score was 8 (interquartile range 7.25-8.75). CONCLUSION We found that medication-naïve children and adolescents with ASD presented significantly more subjective and objective sleep alterations compared to TD and identified possible moderators of these differences. Future research requires an analysis of how these sleep alterations are linked to core symptom severity and comorbid behavioural problems, which would provide an integrated therapeutic intervention for ASD. However, our results should be interpreted in light of the potential publication bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heeyeon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Han Kim
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghwan Kim
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Yeob Kim
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Samuele Cortese
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, Academic Unit of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CNS and Psychiatry), Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York University Child Study Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance, and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu/CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Imaging Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer(IDIBAPS), Mental Health Research Networking Center(CIBERSAM), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Andre F Carvalho
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Barwon Health, Deakin University School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Severance Underwood Meta-research Center, Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-Ah Cheon
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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18
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Bian WJ, González OC, de Lecea L. Adolescent sleep defects and dopaminergic hyperactivity in mice with a schizophrenia-linked Shank3 mutation. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad131. [PMID: 37144901 PMCID: PMC10334736 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Shank3 is a shared risk gene for autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Sleep defects have been characterized for autism models with Shank3 mutations; however, evidence has been lacking for the potential sleep defects caused by Shank3 mutation associated with schizophrenia and how early in development these defects may occur. Here we characterized the sleep architecture of adolescent mice carrying a schizophrenia-linked, R1117X mutation in Shank3. We further employed GRABDA dopamine sensor and fiber photometry to record dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during sleep/wake states. Our results show that homozygous mutant R1117X mice have significantly reduced sleep in the dark phase during adolescence, altered electroencephalogram power, especially during the rapid-eye-movement sleep, and dopamine hyperactivity during sleep but not during wakefulness. Further analyses suggest that these adolescent defects in sleep architecture and dopaminergic neuromodulation tightly correlate with the social novelty preference later in adulthood and predict adult social performance during same-sex social interactions. Our results provide novel insights into the sleep phenotypes in mouse models of schizophrenia and the potential use of developmental sleep as a predictive metric for adult social symptoms. Together with recent studies in other Shank3 models, our work underscores the idea that Shank3-involved circuit disruptions may be one of the shared pathologies in certain types of schizophrenia and autism. Future research is needed to establish the causal relationship among adolescent sleep defects, dopaminergic dysregulation, and adult behavioral changes in Shank3 mutation animals and other models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jie Bian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Oscar C González
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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19
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Yamada T, Watanabe T, Sasaki Y. Are sleep disturbances a cause or consequence of autism spectrum disorder? Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 77:377-385. [PMID: 36949621 PMCID: PMC10871071 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core symptoms such as atypical social communication, stereotyped behaviors, and restricted interests. One of the comorbid symptoms of individuals with ASD is sleep disturbance. There are two major hypotheses regarding the neural mechanism underlying ASD, i.e., the excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance and the altered neuroplasticity hypotheses. However, the pathology of ASD remains unclear due to inconsistent research results. This paper argues that sleep is a confounding factor, thus, must be considered when examining the pathology of ASD because sleep plays an important role in modulating the E/I balance and neuroplasticity in the human brain. Investigation of the E/I balance and neuroplasticity during sleep might enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of ASD. It may also lead to the development of neurobiologically informed interventions to supplement existing psychosocial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamada
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, 02912, USA
| | - Yuka Sasaki
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, 02912, USA
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20
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Galion AW, Farmer JG, Connolly HV, Allhusen VD, Bennett A, Coury DL, Lam J, Neumeyer AM, Sohl K, Witmans M, Malow BA. A Practice Pathway for the Treatment of Night Wakings in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06026-2. [PMID: 37358787 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report high rates of sleep problems. In 2012, the Autism Treatment Network/ Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (ATN/AIR-P) Sleep Committee developed a pathway to address these concerns. Since its publication, ATN/AIR-P clinicians and parents have identified night wakings as a refractory problem unaddressed by the pathway. We reviewed the existing literature and identified 76 scholarly articles that provided data on night waking in children with ASD. Based on the available literature, we propose an updated practice pathway to identify and treat night wakings in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjalee W Galion
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, 1201 W. La Veta Avenue, Orange, CA, 92868, USA.
| | - Justin G Farmer
- Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Virginia D Allhusen
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, 1201 W. La Veta Avenue, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
| | - Amanda Bennett
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Janet Lam
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ann M Neumeyer
- Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristin Sohl
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | - Beth A Malow
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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21
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Jones-Tinsley CE, Olson RJ, Mader M, Wickham PT, Gutowsky K, Wong C, Chu SS, Milman NEP, Cao H, Lim MM. Early life sleep disruption has long lasting, sex specific effects on later development of sleep in prairie voles. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100087. [PMID: 36712905 PMCID: PMC9879777 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2022.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, sleep duration is highest in the early postnatal period of life and is critical for shaping neural circuits that control the development of complex behaviors. The prairie vole is a wild, highly social rodent that serves as a unique model for the study of complex, species-typical social behaviors. Previous work in our laboratory has found that early life sleep disruption (ELSD) in prairie voles during a sensitive window of postnatal development leads to long lasting changes in social and cognitive behaviors as well as structural changes in excitatory and inhibitory neural circuits in the brain. However, it is currently unknown how later sleep is impacted by ELSD, both shortly after ELSD and over the long term. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the effects of ELSD on later life sleep, compared to sleep in normally developing prairie voles. First, we conducted tethered electroencephalogram/electromyogram (EEG/EMG) recordings in juvenile prairie voles undergoing ELSD, compared to Control conditions. Second, we conducted 24 h of home cage tethered EEG/EMG recordings in either adolescent or adult male and female prairie voles that had previously undergone ELSD or Control conditions as juveniles. We found that, as adults, male ELSD prairie voles showed persistently lower REM sleep duration and female ELSD prairie voles showed persistently higher NREM sleep duration compared to Controls, but no other sleep parameters differed. We concluded that 1) persistent effects of ELSD on sleep into adulthood may contribute to the social and cognitive deficits observed in adult voles, and 2) sleep disruption early in life can influence later sleep patterns in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn E Jones-Tinsley
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.,Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Randall J Olson
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.,Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | | | - Claire Wong
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sung Sik Chu
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Noah E P Milman
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.,Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Hung Cao
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Miranda M Lim
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA.,Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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22
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Milman NE, Tinsley CE, Raju RM, Lim MM. Loss of sleep when it is needed most - Consequences of persistent developmental sleep disruption: A scoping review of rodent models. Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms 2023; 14:100085. [PMID: 36567958 PMCID: PMC9768382 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbscr.2022.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep is an essential component of development. Developmental sleep disruption (DSD) impacts brain maturation and has been associated with significant consequences on socio-emotional development. In humans, poor sleep during infancy and adolescence affects neurodevelopmental outcomes and may be a risk factor for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other neuropsychiatric illness. Given the wide-reaching and enduring consequences of DSD, identifying underlying mechanisms is critical to best inform interventions with translational capacity. In rodents, studies have identified some mechanisms and neural circuits by which DSD causes later social, emotional, sensorimotor, and cognitive changes. However, these studies spanned methodological differences, including different developmental timepoints for both sleep disruption and testing, different DSD paradigms, and even different rodent species. In this scoping review on DSD in rodents, we synthesize these various studies into a cohesive framework to identify common neural mechanisms underlying DSD-induced dysfunction in brain and behavior. Ultimately, this review serves the goal to inform the generation of novel translational interventions for human developmental disorders featuring sleep disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah E.P. Milman
- Oregon Health and Science University, Dept. of Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
| | - Carolyn E. Tinsley
- Oregon Health and Science University, Dept. of Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
| | - Ravikiran M. Raju
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Miranda M. Lim
- Oregon Health and Science University, Dept. of Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
- Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, 97214, USA
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23
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Henderson LM, St Clair M, Knowland V, van Rijn E, Walker S, Gaskell MG. Stronger Associations Between Sleep and Mental Health in Adults with Autism: A UK Biobank Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:1543-1559. [PMID: 34860312 PMCID: PMC10066094 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05382-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This study examined sleep and its cognitive and affective correlates in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), utilizing UK Biobank data. There were no group differences in subjective sleep duration [n = 220 ASD; n = 2200 general population (GP)]. Accelerometer measures of sleep duration or nighttime activity did not differ by group, but sleep efficiency was marginally lower in ASD (n = 83 ASD; n = 824 GP). Sleep efficiency was associated with wellbeing and mental health, and pathways between accelerometer sleep measures and wellbeing and mental health were significantly stronger for adults with ASD (who also reported substantially poorer wellbeing and > 5 × likelihood of experiencing mental distress). These findings highlight the need to monitor sleep to maintain good mental health in adult ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Henderson
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - M St Clair
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - V Knowland
- Department of Speech and Language Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - E van Rijn
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - S Walker
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - M G Gaskell
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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24
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Moysés-Oliveira M, Paschalidis M, Souza-Cunha LA, Esteves-Guerreiro PA, Adami LNG, Kloster AK, Mosini AC, Moreira GA, Doria S, Tempaku PF, Pires GN, Andersen ML, Tufik S. Genetic basis of sleep phenotypes and rare neurodevelopmental syndromes reveal shared molecular pathways. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1058-1067. [PMID: 36791049 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Sleep-related phenotypes have been frequently reported in early on-set epileptic encephalopathies and in developmental delay syndromes, in particular in syndromes related to autism spectrum disorder. Yet the convergent pathogenetic mechanisms between these comorbidities are largely unknown. We first performed a gene enrichment study that identified shared risk genes among rare epileptic encephalopathies/neurodevelopmental disorders, rare developmental delay genetic syndromes and sleep disturbances. We then determined cellular and molecular pathways enriched among genes shared between sleep phenotypes and those two early onset mental illnesses, aiming to identify genetic disparities and commonalities among these phenotypic groups. The sleep gene set was observed as significantly overlapped with the two gene lists associated to rare genetic syndromes (i.e., epileptic encephalopathies/neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental delay gene sets), suggesting shared genetic contribution. Similarities across significantly enriched pathways between the two intersect lists comprehended mostly synapse-related pathways, such as retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, serotonergic, and GABAergic synapse. Network analysis indicates epileptic encephalopathies/neurodevelopmental disorders versus sleep-specific clusters and developmental delay versus sleep-specific clusters related to synaptic and transcriptional regulation, respectively. Longstanding functional patterns previously described in epileptic encephalopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders genetic architecture were recaptured after dissecting the overlap between the genes associated to those developmental phenotypes and sleep disturbances, suggesting that during neurodevelopment different molecular and functional mechanisms are related to alterations on circadian rhythm. The overlapping gene set and biological pathways highlighted by this study may serve as a primer for new functional investigations of shared molecular mechanisms between sleep disturbances and rare developmental syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo A Moreira
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Doria
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscila F Tempaku
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel N Pires
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monica L Andersen
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Tufik
- Sleep Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Holter KM, Pierce BE, Gould RW. Metabotropic glutamate receptor function and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 168:93-175. [PMID: 36868636 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are the most abundant family of G-protein coupled receptors and are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Alterations in glutamate homeostasis, including dysregulations in mGlu receptor function, have been indicated as key contributors to multiple CNS disorders. Fluctuations in mGlu receptor expression and function also occur across diurnal sleep-wake cycles. Sleep disturbances including insomnia are frequently comorbid with neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative conditions. These often precede behavioral symptoms and/or correlate with symptom severity and relapse. Chronic sleep disturbances may also be a consequence of primary symptom progression and can exacerbate neurodegeneration in disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, there is a bidirectional relationship between sleep disturbances and CNS disorders; disrupted sleep may serve as both a cause and a consequence of the disorder. Importantly, comorbid sleep disturbances are rarely a direct target of primary pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders even though improving sleep can positively impact other symptom clusters. This chapter details known roles of mGlu receptor subtypes in both sleep-wake regulation and CNS disorders focusing on schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, AD, and substance use disorder (cocaine and opioid). In this chapter, preclinical electrophysiological, genetic, and pharmacological studies are described, and, when possible, human genetic, imaging, and post-mortem studies are also discussed. In addition to reviewing the important relationships between sleep, mGlu receptors, and CNS disorders, this chapter highlights the development of selective mGlu receptor ligands that hold promise for improving both primary symptoms and sleep disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M Holter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Bethany E Pierce
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Robert W Gould
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
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26
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Leung MHB, Ngan STJ, Cheng PWC, Chan FCG, Chang WC, Cheung HK, Ho C, Lee CKK, Tang YCV, Wong SMC, Chan KLP. Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1088209. [PMID: 37139314 PMCID: PMC10149766 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1088209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a growing prevalence of sleep problems associated with significant behavioral problems and more severe autism clinical presentation. Little is known about the relationships between autism traits and sleep problems in Hong Kong. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether children with autism have increased sleep problems than non-autistic children in Hong Kong. The secondary objective was to examine the factors associated with sleep problems in an autism clinical sample. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 135 children with autism and 102 with the same age range of non-autistic children, aged between 6 and 12 years. Both groups were screened and compared on their sleep behaviors using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Results Children with autism had significantly more sleep problems than non-autistic children [t (226.73) = 6.20, p < 0.001]. Bed -sharing [beta = 0.25, t (165) = 2.75, p = 0.07] and maternal age at birth [beta = 0.15, t (165) = 2.05, p = 0.043] were significant factors associated with CSHQ score on the top of autism traits. Stepwise linear regression modeling identified that only separation anxiety disorder (beta = 4.83, t = 2.40, p = 0.019) best-predicted CSHQ. Conclusion In summary, autistic children suffered from significantly more sleep problems and co-occurring separation anxiety disorder brings greater sleep problems as compared to non-autistic children. Clinicians should be more aware of sleep problems to provide more effective treatments to children with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Ho Brian Leung
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Pak Wing Calvin Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- *Correspondence: Pak Wing Calvin Cheng
| | | | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hoi Kei Cheung
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chung Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi Kei Krystal Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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27
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Toscano CVA, Ferreira JP, Quinaud RT, Silva KMN, Carvalho HM, Gaspar JM. Exercise improves the social and behavioral skills of children and adolescent with autism spectrum disorders. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1027799. [PMID: 36620673 PMCID: PMC9813515 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1027799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, there is no standard treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but there are many ways to minimize the symptoms and maximize abilities. Some studies suggest that exercise and other physical activities with children with ASD may be beneficial. In this study, we hypothesized that a physical exercise program (48-week exercise-intervention) could improve symptomatology dyad among children and adolescents with ASD. Our main aim was to examine the effects of physical activity on the primary clinical symptoms and associated comorbidities in children and adolescents with ASD. Methods We allocated 229 children with ASD, ranging in age from 2.3-17.3 years (M = 7.8, SD = 3.2), into three groups: (a) exercise- intervention group, (b) control group from the same institution, and (c) control group from another institution. The exercise program was performed at moderate intensity in a 30 min section twice a week for 48 weeks. We used Bayesian multilevel regression modeling to examine participant outcomes and responses to the exercise-intervention. Results Our results showed that a 48-week exercise-intervention substantially decreased ASD social interaction problems, attention deficit, emotional reactivity, stereotypical verbal and motor behavior, and sleep disturbances. However, physical exercise did not affect eye contact and food selectivity. We also observed that ASD severity and socioeconomic status influence eye contact, attention deficit, and sleep disturbance responses. Conclusion In conclusion, children and adolescents with ASD exposed to a 48-week physical exercise-intervention program had important improvements in ASD symptoms. This study highlights that structured exercise programs can be a powerful complementary therapy for the ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystiane V. A. Toscano
- Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - José P. Ferreira
- Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo T. Quinaud
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sports, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Keity M. N. Silva
- Physical Education Service, Unified Center for Integration and Development of Autism, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Humberto M. Carvalho
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sports, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Joana M. Gaspar
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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28
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Saletin JM, Koopman-Verhoeff ME, Han G, Barker DH, Carskadon MA, Anders TF, Sheinkopf SJ. Sleep Problems and Autism Impairments in a Large Community Sample of Children and Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022:10.1007/s10578-022-01470-0. [PMID: 36515855 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-022-01470-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sleep problems are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). How sleep problems reflect specific ASD phenotypes is unclear. We studied whether sleep problems indexed functional impairment in a heterogeneous community sample of individuals with ASD. We analyzed 977 probands (233 females; age = 11.27 ± 4.13 years) from the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment dataset, a unique public-private-academic collaboration involving all major points of service for families in Rhode Island. We found that individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD were more likely to have sleep problems. However, across the whole sample and above and beyond a formal diagnosis, sleep problems were dimensionally associated with worse social impairment and poorer adaptive functioning. By using a large dataset reflective of the diversity of presentations in the community, this study underscores the importance of considering sleep problems in clinical practice to improve adaptive functioning in individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared M Saletin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA.
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - M Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gloria Han
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David H Barker
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- The Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mary A Carskadon
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Thomas F Anders
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephen J Sheinkopf
- Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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29
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Pattison E, Mantilla A, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Marks D, Sciberras E, McGillivray J, Papadopoulos N, Rinehart N. Acceptability of a behavioural sleep intervention for autistic children: A qualitative evaluation of Sleeping Sound. Sleep Med 2022; 100:378-389. [PMID: 36201889 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study was to evaluate parental perceptions of the acceptability of a brief behavioural sleep intervention for autistic children (aged 5-13 years) using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). METHODS Qualitative data were collected during a large randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the Sleeping Sound intervention: 123 families were randomised to the intervention group, of which 115 (93%) completed at least one intervention session and 82 (67%) provided qualitative evaluation data in the 3-month follow-up survey. Consultation records from intervention sessions and parent surveys were qualitatively analysed post hoc using a hybrid approach to thematic analysis. RESULTS Findings were categorised under the seven themes of the TFA (affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity costs, perceived effectiveness, self-efficacy) in addition to three themes that were defined following inductive and deductive coding (barriers to implementation, facilitators to implementation, suggestions for improvement). Participants spoke positively about their experience participating in the intervention and perceived the intervention to be appropriate and effective. Most parents (95.5%) reported that they would recommend the Sleeping Sound intervention to other families of autistic children. Barriers to implementation included child and parent anxiety, child health problems, parental preferences, family circumstances, and other (e.g., school holidays). Facilitators to implementation included family support and consistency with strategies. CONCLUSIONS The Sleeping Sound intervention was considered acceptable to parents of autistic children as evidenced by largely positive feedback regarding their experience. The results highlighted areas for improvement which can be used to inform future iterations of the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Pattison
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Ana Mantilla
- Krongold Clinic, School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
| | - Deborah Marks
- Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Jane McGillivray
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Nicole Papadopoulos
- Krongold Clinic, School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Nicole Rinehart
- Krongold Clinic, School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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30
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Schiltz HK, Fenning RM, Erath SA, Baker JK. Parasympathetic functioning and sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:2138-2148. [PMID: 36114684 PMCID: PMC9825964 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of parasympathetic nervous system activity, has been linked with sleep quality among children with neurotypical development. The current study extended examination of these processes to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group at considerable risk for sleep problems. Participants included 54 children with ASD (aged 6-10 years, 43% Hispanic). RSA data were collected via a wired MindWare system during a 3-min baseline and a 3-min challenge task. Parents reported on their children's sleep problems and sleep duration using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Abbreviated. Although no significant correlations emerged between RSA indices and parent-reported child sleep, baseline RSA and RSA reactivity interacted in the prediction of sleep problems. For children with higher RSA reactivity, higher baseline RSA was associated with fewer sleep problems, but for children with lower RSA reactivity, baseline RSA was not predictive. No main effects or interactions of RSA predicted sleep duration. Findings suggest resilience against sleep problems for children with ASD presenting with higher baseline RSA and higher RSA reactivity. Implications of these results center upon directly targeting psychophysiology (i.e., parasympathetic nervous system regulation) as a possible mechanism to improve sleep in children with ASD, and developing personalized interventions based on physiological markers of risk and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary K. Schiltz
- Department of PsychologyMarquette UniversityMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for AutismCalifornia State UniversityFullertonCaliforniaUSA
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human BehaviorUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rachel M. Fenning
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for AutismCalifornia State UniversityFullertonCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Psychological Science and The Claremont Autism CenterClaremont McKenna CollegeClaremontCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Jason K. Baker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for AutismCalifornia State UniversityFullertonCaliforniaUSA
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Rolling J, Rabot J, Schroder CM. Melatonin Treatment for Pediatric Patients with Insomnia: Is There a Place for It? Nat Sci Sleep 2022; 14:1927-1944. [PMID: 36325278 PMCID: PMC9621019 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s340944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a vital physiological function that is impaired in ranges from 10% in the typically developing pediatric population to over 80% in populations of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or psychiatric comorbidities. Pediatric insomnia disorder is an increasing public health concern given its negative impact on synaptic plasticity involved in learning and memory consolidation but also on mood regulation, hormonal development and growth, and its significant impact on quality of life of the child, the adolescent and the family. While first-line treatment of pediatric insomnia should include parental education on sleep as well as sleep hygiene measures and behavioural treatment approaches, pharmacological interventions may be necessary if these strategies fail. Melatonin treatment has been increasingly used off-label in pediatric insomnia, given its benign safety profile. This article aims to identify the possible role of melatonin treatment for pediatric insomnia, considering its physiological role in sleep regulation and the differential effects of immediate release (IR) versus prolonged release (PR) melatonin. For the physician dealing with pediatric insomnia, it is particularly important to be able to distinguish treatment rationales implying different dosages and times of treatment intake. Finally, we discuss the benefit-risk ratio for melatonin treatment in different pediatric populations, ranging from the general pediatric population to children with different types of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder or ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Rolling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
- CNRS UPR3212- Research Team “Light, Circadian Rhythms, Sleep Homeostasis and Neuropsychiatry”, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
- Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France
- Sleep Disorders Centre & International Research Centre for ChronoSomnology (Circsom), University Hospitals Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Juliette Rabot
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
- CNRS UPR3212- Research Team “Light, Circadian Rhythms, Sleep Homeostasis and Neuropsychiatry”, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
- Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France
- Expert Centre for High-Functioning Autism, Fondation FondaMental, Strasbourg, France
- Autism Resources Centre 67 for Children and Adolescents, Strasbourg, France
| | - Carmen M Schroder
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Strasbourg, France
- CNRS UPR3212- Research Team “Light, Circadian Rhythms, Sleep Homeostasis and Neuropsychiatry”, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Strasbourg, France
- Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders STRAS&ND, Strasbourg, France
- Sleep Disorders Centre & International Research Centre for ChronoSomnology (Circsom), University Hospitals Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Expert Centre for High-Functioning Autism, Fondation FondaMental, Strasbourg, France
- Autism Resources Centre 67 for Children and Adolescents, Strasbourg, France
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Bin Eid W, Lim M, Gabrieli G, Kölbel M, Halstead E, Esposito G, Dimitriou D. Habilitation of sleep problems among mothers and their children with autism spectrum disorder: Insights from multi-level exploratory dyadic analyses. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2022; 3:915060. [PMID: 36211831 PMCID: PMC9533106 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2022.915060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Few habilitation strategies for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) consider their sleep-related problems. Together with the fact that caregivers of children with ASD also face issues with sleep, there may be yet-to-be uncovered relationships between caregiver-child sleep patterns and sleep quality, offering a key opportunity for clinicians to consider the needs of both child and caregiver in terms of sleep. 29 dyads of mothers and their children with ASD were recruited for this cohort study and both subjective (self-report questionnaires and sleep diaries) and objective (cortisol samples and actigraphy) measures of sleep were collected to investigate significant predictors of sleep quality. Comparative, correlational, and hierarchical analyses were conducted. Findings indicated that both mother and child experience sleep deprivation in terms of shorter sleep duration and poor sleep quality in terms of longer sleep onset latencies and a higher frequency of wake bouts. Exploratory hierarchical analyses also found that child-related sleep difficulties such as sleep disordered breathing and night waking significantly predict mothers’ sleep quality, which may point to the bi-directional influence of mother-child sleep. Based on these findings, it is recommended that clinicians adopt a family systems perspective and consider the sleep environment of the household, particularly that of the caregiver and child, when designing interventions for sleep-related problems in ASD. Finally, there is a need for additional support to promote good quality sleep among caregivers of children with ASD to bolster out-of-clinic care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasmiah Bin Eid
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
| | - Mengyu Lim
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Giulio Gabrieli
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Melanie Kölbel
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences Unit, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Halstead
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Affiliative Behaviour and Physiology Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Italy
| | - Dagmara Dimitriou
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
- Correspondence: Dagmara Dimitriou
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Bin Eid W, Lim M, Halstead E, Esposito G, Dimitriou D. A cross-cultural comparison of sleep patterns between typically developing children and children with ASD living in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 128:104290. [PMID: 35810543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep is crucial for child development, especially for children with ASD. While it is known that children with ASD experience more severe sleep problems and that these problems tend to persist compared to their typically developing counterparts, these findings tend to come from only Western countries. A cross-cultural study is important to understand if the prevailing understanding of sleep in children with ASD can be extended to different cultural backgrounds. AIM A cross-cultural study is conducted, involving typically developing children and children with ASD aged 5-12 across two countries: Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Using a combination of questionnaires measuring ASD severity (CARS-2), sleep quality (CSHQ), sociodemographic and lifestyle variables and sleep diaries, 244 children were sampled using a mixture of snowball and convenience sampling methods. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Children with ASD experience more sleep problems compared to typically developing children in Saudi Arabia, and these problems similarly persist across time. Specifically, it was found that children with ASD in Saudi Arabia experience greater sleep onset latency and a greater number of night awakenings. Additionally, across the ASD groups, it was found that children from Saudi Arabia generally experienced poorer sleep than children in the United Kingdom in terms of shorter sleep duration, although children in the United Kingdom tended to report more instances of sleep anxiety and parasomnias. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Several reasons such as parental education about sleep hygiene, cultural influences and social hours were put forward as potential explanations for cross-cultural differences. Findings served to emphasise the importance of culturally-appropriate interventions and public education regarding child sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Bin Eid
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, WC1H 0AA London, UK
| | - M Lim
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - E Halstead
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, WC1H 0AA London, UK
| | - G Esposito
- Affiliative Behaviour and Physiology Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini, 31, I-38068 Rovereto, Italy.
| | - D Dimitriou
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, WC1H 0AA London, UK.
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34
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Lord JS, Gay SM, Harper KM, Nikolova VD, Smith KM, Moy SS, Diering GH. Early life sleep disruption potentiates lasting sex-specific changes in behavior in genetically vulnerable Shank3 heterozygous autism model mice. Mol Autism 2022; 13:35. [PMID: 36038911 PMCID: PMC9425965 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00514-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience high rates of sleep disruption beginning early in life; however, the developmental consequences of this disruption are not understood. We examined sleep behavior and the consequences of sleep disruption in developing mice bearing C-terminal truncation mutation in the high-confidence ASD risk gene SHANK3 (Shank3ΔC). We hypothesized that sleep disruption may be an early sign of developmental divergence, and that clinically relevant Shank3WT/ΔC mice may be at increased risk of lasting deleterious outcomes following early life sleep disruption. Methods We recorded sleep behavior in developing Shank3ΔC/ΔC, Shank3WT/ΔC, and wild-type siblings of both sexes using a noninvasive home-cage monitoring system. Separately, litters of Shank3WT/ΔC and wild-type littermates were exposed to automated mechanical sleep disruption for 7 days prior to weaning (early life sleep disruption: ELSD) or post-adolescence (PASD) or undisturbed control (CON) conditions. All groups underwent standard behavioral testing as adults. Results Male and female Shank3ΔC/ΔC mice slept significantly less than wild-type and Shank3WT/ΔC siblings shortly after weaning, with increasing sleep fragmentation in adolescence, indicating that sleep disruption has a developmental onset in this ASD model. ELSD treatment interacted with genetic vulnerability in Shank3WT/ΔC mice, resulting in lasting, sex-specific changes in behavior, whereas wild-type siblings were largely resilient to these effects. Male ELSD Shank3WT/ΔC subjects demonstrated significant changes in sociability, sensory processing, and locomotion, while female ELSD Shank3WT/ΔC subjects had a significant reduction in risk aversion. CON Shank3WT/ΔC mice, PASD mice, and all wild-type mice demonstrated typical behavioral responses in most tests. Limitations This study tested the interaction between developmental sleep disruption and genetic vulnerability using a single ASD mouse model: Shank3ΔC (deletion of exon 21). The broader implications of this work should be supported by additional studies using ASD model mice with distinct genetic vulnerabilities. Conclusion Our study shows that sleep disruption during sensitive periods of early life interacts with underlying genetic vulnerability to drive lasting and sex-specific changes in behavior. As individuals progress through maturation, they gain resilience to the lasting effects of sleep disruption. This work highlights developmental sleep disruption as an important vulnerability in ASD susceptibility. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13229-022-00514-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia S Lord
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sean M Gay
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kathryn M Harper
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Viktoriya D Nikolova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kirsten M Smith
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. .,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Graham H Diering
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Adolescent sleep molds adult social preferences. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:841-843. [PMID: 35637372 PMCID: PMC9907030 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01103-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Sleep disruption is a common but poorly understood feature of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder. A study by Bian et al. reveals that sleep disruption in adolescent mice leads to long-lasting changes in social novelty preferences. Importantly, these perturbations can be restored through balanced actions in midbrain dopamine systems.
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36
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Bian WJ, Brewer CL, Kauer JA, de Lecea L. Adolescent sleep shapes social novelty preference in mice. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:912-923. [PMID: 35618950 PMCID: PMC9283223 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances frequently occur in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, but the developmental role of sleep is largely unexplored, and a causal relationship between developmental sleep defects and behavioral consequences in adulthood remains elusive. Here, we show that in mice, sleep disruption (SD) in adolescence, but not in adulthood, causes long-lasting impairment in social novelty preference. Furthermore, adolescent SD alters the activation and release patterns of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in response to social novelty. This developmental sleep function is mediated by balanced VTA activity during adolescence; chemogenetic excitation mimics, whereas silencing rescues, the social deficits of adolescent SD. Finally, we show that in Shank3-mutant mice, improving sleep or rectifying VTA activity during adolescence ameliorates adult social deficits. Together, our results identify a critical role of sleep and dopaminergic activity in the development of social interaction behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jie Bian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Chelsie L Brewer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julie A Kauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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37
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Veatch OJ, Mazzotti DR, Schultz RT, Abel T, Michaelson JJ, Brodkin ES, Tunc B, Assouline SG, Nickl-Jockschat T, Malow BA, Sutcliffe JS, Pack AI. Calculating genetic risk for dysfunction in pleiotropic biological processes using whole exome sequencing data. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:39. [PMID: 35751013 PMCID: PMC9233372 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09448-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous genes are implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD encompasses a wide-range and severity of symptoms and co-occurring conditions; however, the details of how genetic variation contributes to phenotypic differences are unclear. This creates a challenge for translating genetic evidence into clinically useful knowledge. Sleep disturbances are particularly prevalent co-occurring conditions in ASD, and genetics may inform treatment. Identifying convergent mechanisms with evidence for dysfunction that connect ASD and sleep biology could help identify better treatments for sleep disturbances in these individuals. METHODS To identify mechanisms that influence risk for ASD and co-occurring sleep disturbances, we analyzed whole exome sequence data from individuals in the Simons Simplex Collection (n = 2380). We predicted protein damaging variants (PDVs) in genes currently implicated in either ASD or sleep duration in typically developing children. We predicted a network of ASD-related proteins with direct evidence for interaction with sleep duration-related proteins encoded by genes with PDVs. Overrepresentation analyses of Gene Ontology-defined biological processes were conducted on the resulting gene set. We calculated the likelihood of dysfunction in the top overrepresented biological process. We then tested if scores reflecting genetic dysfunction in the process were associated with parent-reported sleep duration. RESULTS There were 29 genes with PDVs in the ASD dataset where variation was reported in the literature to be associated with both ASD and sleep duration. A network of 108 proteins encoded by ASD and sleep duration candidate genes with PDVs was identified. The mechanism overrepresented in PDV-containing genes that encode proteins in the interaction network with the most evidence for dysfunction was cerebral cortex development (GO:0,021,987). Scores reflecting dysfunction in this process were associated with sleep durations; the largest effects were observed in adolescents (p = 4.65 × 10-3). CONCLUSIONS Our bioinformatic-driven approach detected a biological process enriched for genes encoding a protein-protein interaction network linking ASD gene products with sleep duration gene products where accumulation of potentially damaging variants in individuals with ASD was associated with sleep duration as reported by the parents. Specifically, genetic dysfunction impacting development of the cerebral cortex may affect sleep by disrupting sleep homeostasis which is evidenced to be regulated by this brain region. Future functional assessments and objective measurements of sleep in adolescents with ASD could provide the basis for more informed treatment of sleep problems in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J Veatch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Diego R Mazzotti
- Division of Medical Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Robert T Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Edward S Brodkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Birkan Tunc
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Susan G Assouline
- Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Beth A Malow
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - James S Sutcliffe
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Allan I Pack
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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38
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Bartakovicova K, Kemenyova P, Belica I, Janik Szapuova Z, Stebelova K, Waczulikova I, Ostatnikova D, Babinska K. Sleep Problems and 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin as Possible Predictors of Symptom Severity, Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137594. [PMID: 35805248 PMCID: PMC9265882 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sleep disturbances are a frequent comorbidity with an adverse effect on their behavior and functioning. It was suggested that melatonin deficit is at least partly responsible for the sleep problems. The study aimed to investigate, in a sample of 56 children with ASD aged 2.8–13.3 years, if the sleep problems and melatonin secretion can serve as predictors of adaptive functioning and severity of the ASD core symptoms. We demonstrated that, after adjustment for age, the Sleep score assessed by the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire predicts the Adaptive behavior composite score only in children younger than 6 years, and the preferred predictive model is for the domain Socialization. The age-adjusted Sleep score predicted Externalizing and Internalizing maladaptive behavior, with a near-zero contribution of age to the relationship between the Internalizing maladaptive behavior and Sleep score. After adjustment for age, the reduced night-time melatonin secretion predicted a higher severity of ASD symptoms in the domain Social affect and the Calibrated Severity Score, but not the sleep problems. Our results emphasize the importance of assessing sleep problems as a modifiable predictor of behavior in children with ASD and support the hypothesis about the role of melatonin in pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Bartakovicova
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Petra Kemenyova
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Ivan Belica
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
- Research Institute for Child Psychology and Pathopsychology, 831 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zofia Janik Szapuova
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Katarina Stebelova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Iveta Waczulikova
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Daniela Ostatnikova
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
| | - Katarina Babinska
- Academic Research Centre for Autism, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (P.K.); (I.B.); (Z.J.S.); (D.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-902278652
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Approches thérapeutiques des troubles du sommeil et des rythmes chez l’enfant avec TSA. Encephale 2022; 48:294-303. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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40
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Han GT, Trevisan DA, Abel EA, Cummings EM, Carlos C, Bagdasarov A, Kala S, Parker T, Canapari C, McPartland JC. Associations between sleep problems and domains relevant to daytime functioning and clinical symptomatology in autism: A meta-analysis. Autism Res 2022; 15:1249-1260. [PMID: 35635067 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autistic individuals experience significantly higher rates of sleep problems compared to the general population, which negatively impacts various aspects of daytime functioning. The strength of associations across domains of functioning has not yet been summarized across studies. The present meta-analysis examined the strength of associations between sleep problems and various domains of daytime functioning in autistic individuals. Searches were conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through May 2020. Inclusion criteria were: an index of sleep disturbance in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); data collected prior to any sleep-related intervention; statistical data indicating relations between sleep problems and outcomes relevant to behavior, cognition, and physical or mental health. Exclusion criteria were: statistics characterizing the relationship between sleep disturbance and outcome variables that partialled out covariates; studies examining correlations between different measures of sleep disturbance. Participants totaled 15,074 from 49 published articles and 51 samples, yielding 209 effect sizes. Sleep problems were significantly associated with more clinical symptomatology and worse daytime functioning. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that sleep problems were most strongly associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms and executive functioning, followed by core autism symptoms, family factors, and adaptive functioning. Findings highlight the far-reaching consequences of sleep problems on daytime functioning for autistic individuals and support the continued prioritization of sleep as a target for intervention through integrated care models to improve wellbeing. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic individuals experience higher rates of sleep problems, such as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, compared to the general population. We quantitatively summarized the literature about how sleep problems are related to different aspects of daytime functioning to identify areas that may be most affected by sleep. Sleep problems were related to all areas assessed, with the strongest associations for mood and anxiety symptoms. We recommend prioritizing sleep health in autistic individuals to improve wellbeing and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria T Han
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Dominic A Trevisan
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Emily A Abel
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Elise M Cummings
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Carter Carlos
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Vision Science, Univeristy of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Armen Bagdasarov
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shashwat Kala
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Termara Parker
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Craig Canapari
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James C McPartland
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Masi A, Moni MA, Azim SI, Choi B, Heussler H, Lin PI, Diaz AM, Eapen V. Clinical and behavioral attributes leading to sleep disorders in children on the autism spectrum. Autism Res 2022; 15:1274-1287. [PMID: 35596587 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Sleep disorders are a common comorbid condition in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ("autism"). However, the relationship between the clinical features of autism and sleep disorders remains unclear. A better understanding of the inherent autism-related characteristics linked to comorbid sleep disorders would improve comprehensive assessment and management. This study examined the relationship between sociodemographics, autism symptoms, sleep problems, cognitive status, behavioral attributes, and sensory profiles. Using data from 1268 participants who took part in the Australian Autism Biobank, sleep-related measurements using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) were compared between autistic children aged 2 to 17 (N = 969), their siblings (N = 188), and unrelated children without an autism diagnosis (N = 111). The known relationship between sleep problems and autism was further explored by including scores from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2, Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale-II and the Short Sensory Profile-2; which were included in analyses for autistic participants who had a completed CSHQ. Multiple regression models were used to identify clinical/behavioral variables associated with CSHQ subscales. The autism group had a significantly higher total CSHQ score than the sibling and comparison groups (p < 0.001), indicating worse sleep quality. Within the autism group, lower adaptive behaviors (i.e., VABS-II) and sensory issues (i.e., SSP-2 subclass scores) were positively associated with the severity of sleep problems (i.e., the CSHQ subclass scores) (p < 0.001). The significant functional impact of poor sleep on autistic children warrants an assessment of sleep as a critical part of a holistic approach to supporting autistic children and their families. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic children generally have co-occurring conditions. Sleep disorders impact approximately 50%-80% of autistic children. The impact on the quality of life for both the children and their families can be significant. This study compares sleep problems in autistic children and adolescents with their siblings and children without a diagnosis of autism, and investigates the relationship between specific autistic traits, daily life behaviors and sleep problems. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic assessment for autistic children and matching appropriate sleep intervention and supports where indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Masi
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mohammod Ali Moni
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Syeda Ishra Azim
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Byungkuk Choi
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Helen Heussler
- Centre for Children's Health Research, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Child Development, Child and Youth Community Health Services, Queensland Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ping-I Lin
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.,Mental Health Research Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.,Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Antonio Mendoza Diaz
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.,Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Valsamma Eapen
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.,Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.,Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
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Wang G, Chen J, Zhang K, Tang S, Wang G. The mediating role of gaze patterns in the association of child sleep disturbances and core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:1719-1731. [PMID: 35521660 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk for sleep disturbances, but the mechanism underlying the association between sleep disturbances and ASD core symptoms is largely unknown. This study examined the relationship between sleep disturbances and ASD core symptoms, and the mediating role of gaze patterns during the facial emotion recognition (FER) task. The study included 57 children with ASD and 59 age- and intelligence-matched typically developing (TD) controls aged 3-7 years. Parents reported their children's sleep disturbances and ASD core symptoms using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Children's gaze patterns during the FER task were recorded by an eye tracking method. We found (1) ASD children had more severe sleep disturbances than TD children; (2) ASD children had atypical gaze patterns and poor FER task performance as determined by lower accuracy and longer reaction time; (3) sleep disturbances were significantly associated with ASD core symptoms of social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior; and (4) atypical gaze patterns partially mediated the association between sleep disturbances and ASD core symptoms. These findings suggest the need for more comprehensive clinical interventions and more effective sleep interventions to improve ASD core symptoms. LAY SUMMARY: Sleep disturbances are very common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study found that sleep disturbances were significantly associated with ASD core symptoms, and gaze patterns during facial emotion recognition task could partially mediate this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshuai Wang
- School of Computer Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,National Engineering Research Center for Multimedia Software,Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,National Engineering Research Center for E-Learning, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jingying Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for E-Learning, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for E-Learning, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Suyun Tang
- School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guanghai Wang
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institution, Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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43
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Sadikova E, Dovgan K, Mazurek MO. Longitudinal Examination of Sleep Problems and Symptom Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:1673-1681. [PMID: 35384626 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05401-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Up to 80% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience sleep problems, which have been associated with more severe presentations of ASD symptoms. We examined the bidirectional link between sleep problems and specific ASD symptoms at two time points within 5 years in a well-characterized sample (659 children with ASD). Using cross-lagged panel analyses, we found evidence for a unidirectional link between baseline ASD symptoms (specifically repetitive behaviors, atypical behaviors, communication, and peer interactions) and future sleep problems, but did not find evidence of a bidirectional relationship. We did not find any longitudinal association between social reciprocity and sleep problems. It is important for providers and caregivers to understand and monitor the link between ASD symptoms and sleep problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Sadikova
- University of Virginia, 417 Emmet Street South, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
| | - Kristen Dovgan
- Marist College, 3399 North Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601, USA
| | - Micah O Mazurek
- University of Virginia, 417 Emmet Street South, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
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Bin Eid W, Lim M, Gabrieli G, Kölbel M, Halstead E, Esposito G, Dimitriou D. Alterations in Cortisol Profiles among Mothers of Children with ASD Related to Poor Child Sleep Quality. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10040666. [PMID: 35455843 PMCID: PMC9032515 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10040666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience poorer sleep, but studies have not yet used objective measures to investigate how child and caregiver sleep affect each other. In this study, 29 mothers and their child with ASD aged between 6 and 16 years were recruited. Questionnaires measuring child autism, maternal depression, and maternal and child sleep quality were administered. Cortisol salivary samples were also obtained from the mothers over the course of a day. Results revealed that maternal depression is significantly correlated with their subjective sleep quality, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction. Child sleep quality was also found to be significantly correlated with ASD severity. In terms of maternal cortisol profiles, a significant number of mothers showed a flattened diurnal cortisol expression, and children of mothers with a flattened cortisol profile had significantly more sleep problems. Overall, results suggest that maternal and child sleep are affected by the child’s disability but also are mutually related. Future studies may consider employing measures such as actigraphy or somnography to quantify sleep quality and establish causal pathways between sleep, cortisol expression and caregiver and child outcomes. The present study has clinical implications in examining family sleep when considering treatment for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasmiah Bin Eid
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London WC1H 0AA, UK; (W.B.E.); (M.K.); (E.H.)
| | - Mengyu Lim
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639818, Singapore; (M.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Giulio Gabrieli
- Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639818, Singapore; (M.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Melanie Kölbel
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London WC1H 0AA, UK; (W.B.E.); (M.K.); (E.H.)
- Department of Developmental Neurosciences Unit, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Elizabeth Halstead
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London WC1H 0AA, UK; (W.B.E.); (M.K.); (E.H.)
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Affiliative Behaviour and Physiology Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini, 84, I-38068 Trento, Italy;
| | - Dagmara Dimitriou
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London WC1H 0AA, UK; (W.B.E.); (M.K.); (E.H.)
- Correspondence:
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45
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Mylonas D, Machado S, Larson O, Patel R, Cox R, Vangel M, Maski K, Stickgold R, Manoach DS. Dyscoordination of non-rapid eye movement sleep oscillations in autism spectrum disorder. Sleep 2022; 45:6505127. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study Objectives
Converging evidence from neuroimaging, sleep, and genetic studies suggest that dysregulation of thalamocortical interactions mediated by the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep spindles assay TRN function, and their coordination with cortical slow oscillations (SOs) indexes thalamocortical communication. These oscillations mediate memory consolidation during sleep. In the present study, we comprehensively characterized spindles and their coordination with SOs in relation to memory and age in children with ASD.
Methods
Nineteen children and adolescents with ASD, without intellectual disability, and 18 typically developing (TD) peers, aged 9–17, completed a home polysomnography study with testing on a spatial memory task before and after sleep. Spindles, SOs, and their coordination were characterized during stages 2 (N2) and 3 (N3) non-rapid eye movement sleep.
Results
ASD participants showed disrupted SO-spindle coordination during N2 sleep. Spindles peaked later in SO upstates and their timing was less consistent. They also showed a spindle density (#/min) deficit during N3 sleep. Both groups showed significant sleep-dependent memory consolidation, but their relations with spindle density differed. While TD participants showed the expected positive correlations, ASD participants showed the opposite.
Conclusions
The disrupted SO-spindle coordination and spindle deficit provide further evidence of abnormal thalamocortical interactions and TRN dysfunction in ASD. The inverse relations of spindle density with memory suggest a different function for spindles in ASD than TD. We propose that abnormal sleep oscillations reflect genetically mediated disruptions of TRN-dependent thalamocortical circuit development that contribute to the manifestations of ASD and are potentially treatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Mylonas
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sasha Machado
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olivia Larson
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA,USA
| | - Rudra Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roy Cox
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Sleep and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA,USA
| | - Kiran Maski
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Stickgold
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dara S Manoach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
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46
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Effects of Sensory Garments on Sleep of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Occup Ther Int 2022; 2022:2941655. [PMID: 35241995 PMCID: PMC8858038 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2941655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the use of sensory garments for improving sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. Method Using a single-subject ABAB reversal design, the researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a sensory garment on sleep duration, sleep latency, and parental stress related to a child's sleep. Four children aged 4–10 participated. We measured sleep duration and sleep latency using the Garmin watches and parent-report sleep logs, parent stress using the Parenting Stress Index Short Form, and sleep behaviors using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results/Discussion. Data showed variable effects on sleep duration and latency across children. The oldest child with the hyposensitive sensory patterns experienced the greatest sleep improvements. All parents experienced stress from daily life, and some reported increased stress due to study participation. Future research is recommended to further investigate the effectiveness of sensory garments on sleep for children with ASD. Therapists are encouraged to evaluate children's development and sensory preferences prior to recommending sensory garments for sleep.
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Elkhatib Smidt SD, Hitt T, Zemel BS, Mitchell JA. Sex differences in childhood sleep and health implications. Ann Hum Biol 2022; 48:474-484. [PMID: 35105205 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1998624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Sleep is critical for optimal childhood metabolic health and neurodevelopment. However, there is limited knowledge regarding childhood sex differences in sleep, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and the impact of such differences on metabolic health. OBJECTIVE To evaluate if sex differences in childhood sleep exist and if sleep associates with metabolic health outcomes equally by sex. Using autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a case study, we also examine sleep sex differences in children with a neurodevelopmental disorder. METHODS A narrative review explored the literature focussing on sex differences in childhood sleep. RESULTS Sex differences in sleep were not detected among pre-adolescents. However, female adolescents were more likely to report impaired sleep than males. Childhood obesity is more common in males. Shorter sleep duration may be associated with obesity in male pre-adolescents/adolescents; although findings are mixed. ASD is male-predominant; yet, there was an indication that pre-adolescent female children with ASD had more impaired sleep. CONCLUSION Sex differences in sleep appear to emerge in adolescence with more impaired sleep in females. This trend was also observed among pre-adolescent female children with ASD. Further research is needed on sex differences in childhood sleep and metabolic health and the underlying mechanisms driving these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey D Elkhatib Smidt
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Sleep Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Sleep Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Talia Hitt
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Babette S Zemel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan A Mitchell
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Smidt SDE, Gooneratne N, Brodkin ES, Bucan M, Mitchell JA. Sufficient sleep duration in autistic children and the role of physical activity. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 26:814-826. [PMID: 34991371 PMCID: PMC9010343 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211053671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Higher levels of physical activity may be associated with improved sleep in children, but this relationship is still being determined, especially in autistic children. In this study, we used existing data from the 2018 National Survey of Children's Health. Caregivers of children 6-17 years old, including caregivers of autistic children, completed a questionnaire that included questions about physical activity (days active in the past week) and sleep duration. We then determined if children were obtaining the recommended hours of sleep for their age (i.e. sufficient sleep). We found that higher physical activity levels were associated with sufficient sleep duration, but this finding was weaker in autistic children. In particular, this association was not observed in autistic children with more severe autism spectrum disorder, female autistic children, and autistic children 6-12 years old. In conclusion, physical activity is a promising approach to help children obtain sufficient sleep duration. However, more personalized approaches to improving sleep may be needed for certain groups of autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey D Elkhatib Smidt
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.,JFK University Medical Center, USA.,University of Pennsylvania, USA
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49
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Whelan S, Mannion A, Madden A, Berger F, Costello R, Ghadiri S, Leader G. Examining the Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Social Functioning, and Behavior Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Nat Sci Sleep 2022; 14:675-695. [PMID: 35444482 PMCID: PMC9015051 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s239622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over forty percent of autistic children experience poor sleep quality, and social interaction difficulties are a core characteristic of autism. However, the relationship between sleep quality and social functioning and behavior remains poorly understood. This systematic review examined the evidence concerning the impact of sleep quality on the social functioning and behavior problems in autistic children and adolescents. It also identified key related factors and evaluated how this issue has been researched to date. Seven key journals were hand-searched and five databases were systematically searched, using keywords. Titles and abstracts of 4123 items were screened against eligibility criteria by two researchers. Relevant studies were retained if they were peer-reviewed empirical papers, published in English between 2000 and 2021. Then, the full text of 97 papers was screened and if they met the eligibility criteria, their reference lists were hand-searched. Forty-six studies were included in the final review. Data were systematically extracted and two authors critically appraised the strengths and weaknesses of studies using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tools. Key themes were identified, because a meta-analysis was not possible due to the studies' heterogeneity. The review identified that sleep quality and social functioning are associated with one another and there is a small amount of evidence that a bi-directional causal relationship may exist. Evidence suggests that several nights of suboptimal sleep duration and a lack of deep continuous sleep negatively impact externalizing and internalizing behavior. Sleep quality is also reduced by anxiety and sensory sensitivity. However, longitudinal studies with larger samples are needed to establish causality. Future research needs to examine confounding factors and to develop consensus regarding best-practice processes for the objective measurement of sleep with autistic children. Additional research also needs to further examine the consequences of poor sleep quality on internalizing behavior, and the impact of socio-cultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Whelan
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Arlene Mannion
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Azeem Madden
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Fine Berger
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Rachel Costello
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Saeid Ghadiri
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Geraldine Leader
- Irish Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN), School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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50
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Yao D, Wang S, Li F, Gao M, Shao J. Analysis of sleep problem in children aged 1-3 years with autism spectrum disorder in Zhejiang province, China. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:923757. [PMID: 36111309 PMCID: PMC9468753 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.923757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High prevalence of sleep problems have been founded in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with rates ranging from 50 to 80%. We aimed to study the sleep status and the occurrence of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 1-3 years, and to provide reference for guiding early comprehensive intervention for ASD children from the perspective of sleep. METHODS From January 1 to December 31, 2021, 74 ASD children who met the diagnostic criteria of "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-V)" served as case group while 84 typically-developing children of the same sex and age served as control group. An original Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire was adopted to compare the sleep status of children in the two groups and to conduct statistical analysis on related factors. RESULTS The incidence of sleep problems in the case group (78.4%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (34.5%) (P < 0.001). Compared with the children in the control group, children in the case group had later bedtime (P < 0.05) and less sleep duration (P < 0.05), and required longer time to fall asleep (P < 0.001) The incidence of sleep problems in children who could fall asleep autonomously in the case group was significantly lower than that in children who needed parental help (P < 0.05). In the case group, the longer the screen exposure time, the higher the incidence of sleep problems (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of sleep problems in ASD children aged 1-3 years is also high, mainly manifested in late bedtime, difficulty falling asleep, frequent night awakenings and less sleep duration. Both sleep patterns and screen exposure can impact their sleep. In the early comprehensive intervention of ASD children, it is necessary to pay full heed to their sleep status and take timely intervention measures in order to improve the quality of life for the ASD children and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yao
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shasha Wang
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minjie Gao
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Shao
- Department of Pediatric Health Care, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
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