The use of melatonin to treat sleep disorder in adults with intellectual disabilities in community settings - the evaluation of three cases using actigraphy

Interventions for sleep difficulties in adults with an intellectual disability: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Current literature highlights higher prevalence rates of sleep difficulties amongst adults with an intellectual disability. However, no synthesis has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of existing interventions in this population. Thus, the aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of sleep interventions in adults with an intellectual disability (ID).

METHOD

Eight databases were searched to identify interventions for sleep difficulties amongst adults with an ID. The study quality was assessed with the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions. Nine studies (n = 97) were eligible for inclusion in the review.

RESULTS

There was a notable study on heterogeneity in terms of the population, study design, intervention studied, sleep assessment and outcome assessments used. Eight of the nine studies reported improvement in sleep following intervention. However, these findings need additional support as only 97 participants involving a variety of interventions and measurement systems were used across all studies. Furthermore, eight of the nine studies had serious to critical risk of bias. The only study identified as having low risk of bias was a placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial for the use of melatonin.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the need for objective measures such as actigraphy and studies with greater experimental control investigating sleep interventions in adults with ID.

Prevalence, associated factors and treatment of sleep problems in adults with intellectual disability: a systematic review

In people with intellectual disability (ID), impaired sleep is common. Life expectancy has increased in this group, and it is known that in general population sleep deteriorates with aging. Therefore the aims of this systematic review were to examine how sleep problems are defined in research among adults and older people with ID, and to collect information on the prevalence, associated factors and treatment of sleep problems in this population. PubMed, EMBase, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 1990 and August 2011. All empirical studies covering sleep problems in adults with ID were included, and assessed on quality (level of evidence), using a slightly modified version of the SIGN-50 methodology checklist for cohort studies. Of 50 studies that were included for systematic review, one was of high quality, 14 were well conducted, 14 were well conducted but with a high risk of bias, and 21 were non-analytical. The reported estimated prevalence rates of sleep problems in adults with ID ranged from 8.5% to 34.1%. A prevalence of 9.2% was reported for significant sleep problems. Sleep problems were associated with the following factors: challenging behavior; respiratory disease; visual impairment; psychiatric conditions; and using psychotropic, antiepileptic and/or antidepressant medication. Little information was found on older people specifically. Two studies reported treatment effects on sleep problems in larger populations; their findings suggest that non-pharmaceutical interventions are beneficial. Research on the prevalence, associated factors and treatment of sleep problems in adults and older people with ID has mainly focused on subjectively derived data. The definitions used to describe a sleep problem are not uniform, and associations are mainly described as correlations. In order to give recommendations for clinical practice further research is needed, involving objective measurements and multivariate analysis.

Exploring the use of actigraphy to investigate sleep problems in older people with intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to explore the use of actigraphy to investigate sleep problems in a convenience sample of clients of Dutch intellectual disability (ID) care providers. Based on data obtained in a large multi-centre study on healthy ageing in people with ID, research questions were: 'To what degree are actigraphic measurements successful in this population?' and 'What is the influence of different sensitivity settings of the Actiwatch Sleep Analysis software on the distribution of sleep variables in this group?'

METHODS

Data were collected in a cross-sectional descriptive study design. We included 563 participants, aged 50 years or older, with borderline to profound ID. Sleep-wake data were measured continuously during 14 days and nights using the Actiwatch AW7. A complete measurement of at least 7 days and nights, including at least one weekend day, was considered successful. Objective variables of sleep were analysed using different sensitivity settings of the Actiwatch AW7 Sleep Analysis software.

RESULTS

In 200 participants (35.5%), a successful measurement was obtained. Unsuccessful measurements were caused primarily by problems with wearing the device and incomplete information on bed time and get up time. Of 382 participants who started wearing the Actiwatch, 354 (92.3%) wore it for at least 7 days. Application of different sensitivity settings of the Sleep Analysis software resulted in clear differences of all sleep parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed into the validity of objective sleep parameters, as measured with the Actiwatch, for screening and epidemiological research in older people with ID. It needs to be investigated which sensitivity setting of the Actiwatch gives most valid results in this specific group, whereas reference data on sleep parameters and cut-off values are to be obtained.

Significant improvement in sleep in people with intellectual disabilities living in residential settings by non-pharmaceutical interventions

BACKGROUND

Although about 15 to 50 percent of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) living in residential settings suffer from sleep problems, scant attention is paid to these problems. Most available studies focus on pharmaceutical solutions. In this study we focus on improving sleep in people with intellectual disabilities living in residential settings by non-pharmaceutical interventions.

METHOD

The design is a multiple case study using actigraphy. Following a baseline measurement of people with ID, we recommended an intervention such as bedtime scheduling. This was followed by an effect measurement.

RESULTS

Sleep efficiency, sleep latency and rising latency improved significantly. The time spent in bed also decreased significantly and the hours of sleep while in bed increased significantly.

CONCLUSION

For people with ID, sleep can be improved by non-pharmaceutical interventions. A multidisciplinary approach is helpful in selecting an adequate intervention.