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Hashem MM, Abdalla AA, Mohamed AM, Mohamed LA, Shamaa HA, Ahmed GK. The relationship between alexithymia, emotion regulation, and sleep problems in school-aged children: A multicentric study. Sleep Med 2023; 112:39-45. [PMID: 37806034 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.032] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alexithymia, mood dysregulation, and sleep quality have complicated effects on children's development. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, emotion regulation, psychiatric problems, and sleep problems among Egyptian school-aged children. METHODS A total of 564 Egyptian children, aged 6 to 14, were divided into two groups based on their total Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire abbreviated score: group 1 (N = 300) with sleep problems and group 2 (N = 264) with non-sleep problems. Their parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and subjectively assessed the children's emotions using the Children's Alexithymia Measure (CAM) and the Clinical Evaluation of Emotional Regulation-9 (CEER-9). RESULTS Males were more proportional in the sleep problems group than others. The sleep problem group was significantly younger and had a longer daily sleep duration than the non-sleep problem group. Alexithymia and emotion dysregulation had the highest mean in the sleep problem group. Furthermore, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, emotion difficulty, conduct, and prosocial problems were the most significant contributing factors and risk factors for sleep problems in children. CONCLUSION Sleep problems in children were associated with younger male children with lengthy daily sleep duration and emotional, behavioural, and prosocial difficulties. Furthermore, alexithymia and emotion dysregulation are significant contributors and risk factors for sleep problems in school-aged children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Hashem
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Alaa A Abdalla
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | | | - Lobna A Mohamed
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hala A Shamaa
- General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, Demira Mental Health Hospital, Dakahlya Governorate, Egypt
| | - Gellan K Ahmed
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
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Händel MN, Andersen HK, Ussing A, Virring A, Jennum P, Debes NM, Laursen T, Baandrup L, Gade C, Dettmann J, Holm J, Krogh C, Birkefoss K, Tarp S, Bliddal M, Edemann-Callesen H. The short-term and long-term adverse effects of melatonin treatment in children and adolescents: a systematic review and GRADE assessment. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 61:102083. [PMID: 37483551 PMCID: PMC10359736 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, melatonin is used to treat children and adolescents with insomnia without knowing the full extent of the short-term and long-term consequences. Our aim was to provide clinicians and guideline panels with a systematic assessment of serious-and non-serious adverse events seen in continuation of melatonin treatment and the impact on pubertal development and bone health following long-term administration in children and adolescents with chronic insomnia. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and PsycINFO via Ovid, up to March 17, 2023, for studies on melatonin treatment among children and adolescents (aged 5-20 years) with chronic insomnia. The language was restricted to English, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. Outcomes were non-serious adverse events and serious adverse events assessed 2-4 weeks after initiating treatment and pubertal development and bone health, with no restriction on definition or time of measurement. Observational studies were included for the assessment of long-term outcomes, and serious and non-serious adverse events were assessed via randomised studies. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). The protocol is registered with the Danish Health Authority. Findings We identified 22 randomised studies with 1350 patients reporting on serious-and non-serious adverse events and four observational studies with a total of 105 patients reporting on pubertal development. Melatonin was not associated with serious adverse events, yet the number of patients experiencing non-serious adverse events was increased (Relative risk 1.56, 95% CI 1.01-2.43, 17 studies, I2 = 47%). Three studies reported little or no influence on pubertal development following 2-4 years of treatment, whereas one study registered a potential delay following longer treatment durations (>7 years). These findings need further evaluation due to several methodological limitations. Interpretation Children who use melatonin are likely to experience non-serious adverse events, yet the actual extent to which melatonin leads to non-serious adverse events and the long-term consequences remain uncertain. This major gap of knowledge on safety calls for caution against complacent use of melatonin in children and adolescents with chronic insomnia and for more research to inform clinicians and guideline panels on this key issue. Funding The Danish Health Authority. The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, supported by the Oak Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Nicole Händel
- The Danish Health Authority, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Research Unit OPEN, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Anja Ussing
- The Danish Health Authority, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Virring
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Poul Jennum
- Danish Centre for Sleep Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nanette Mol Debes
- Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Torben Laursen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Lone Baandrup
- Bispebjerg and Gentofte Departments, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital – the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region in Denmark & Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Gade
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jette Dettmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital – NOH, Hillerød, Denmark
| | - Jonas Holm
- The Occupational Therapist Association, Denmark
| | - Camilla Krogh
- The Danish Health Authority, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Simon Tarp
- The Danish Health Authority, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Bliddal
- Research Unit OPEN, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henriette Edemann-Callesen
- The Danish Health Authority, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Evidence-Based Psychiatry, Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark
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