Melatonin and Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive and restricted behavioral patterns and persistent deficits in social communication. The prevalence of ASD is estimated to be 1.7–1.85% of children and adolescents [1-3]. Children with ASD have a variety of comorbidities that affect their functioning during their daily lives [4]. Especially, sleep disturbances are relatively common and affect not only the daily functioning and quality of life of children but also the quality of life of their family [5-8]. It has been recognized that children with ASD and sleep problems have more emotional and behavioral difficulties than children without sleep problems [9]. Episodes of violent behavior, as well as emotional problems such as depression and anxiety, are significantly increased [10]. Additionally, cognitive tests show they tend to have a worse performance [11], and their daily life functioning is relatively low [10]. It has also been reported that severe sleep disturbances are associated with severe daytime behavior problems [10]. In addition to behavioral problems, ASD children with sleeping disorders have more problems with socialization, attention, self-stimulation, and self-inflicted behavior Melatonin and Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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