Sleep Problems, Circadian Rhythms, and Their Relation to Behavioral Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Elena Martinez-CayuelasTeresa Gavela-PérezMaría Rodrigo-MorenoRebeca Losada-Del PozoBeatriz Moreno-VinuesCarmen GarcesLeandro Soriano-GuillénPublished in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders (2023)
This was an exploratory cross-sectional study comparing 45 children with ASD to 24 typically developing drug-naïve controls, group-matched on age, sex, and body mass index. Objective data was obtained using the following: an ambulatory circadian monitoring device; saliva samples to determine dim light melatonin onset (DLMO): and three parent-completed measures: the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL); the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R); and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28). The CBCL and RBS-R scales showed the highest scores amongst poor sleepers with ASD. Sleep fragmentation was associated with somatic complaints and self-injury, leading to a higher impact on family life. Sleep onset difficulties were associated with withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. Those with phase advanced DLMO had lower scores for "somatic complaints"; "anxious/depressed" state; and "social problems", suggesting that this phenomenon has a protective role.
Keyphrases
- mental health
- physical activity
- body mass index
- autism spectrum disorder
- sleep quality
- healthcare
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- public health
- blood pressure
- copy number
- young adults
- intellectual disability
- high frequency
- electronic health record
- gene expression
- weight gain
- big data
- drug induced
- depressive symptoms
- dna methylation
- artificial intelligence
- weight loss
- social media
- genome wide