Sleep disorders in children.
In general, childhood sleep disturbances can be accurately clinically diagnosed by the primary care physician, neurologist, or psychiatrist. Careful characterization of the "spells," either by history or home videotaping, may be sufficient. Often, no laboratory studies are needed if the physician can recognize the sleep disturbance and clinically differentiate it from epilepsy or migraine. Although behavioral approaches or "tincture of time" often alleviates a great many sleep disturbances in children, psychopharmacologic therapy has a role in many and can be judiciously prescribed with safety and efficacy.
Woody
R C
RC
Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy