title: Functional assessment and treatment of sleeping problems with developmentally disabled children: six case studies.
abstract: Sleeping problems are common among developmentally disabled children of young age and they may have adverse effects on the well-being of both child and parents. In the present study, results from functional assessment with four children suggested that sleeping problems were reinforced by parental attention whilst an undiagnosed seizure disorder was associated with nighttime crying with one child. Conditioned anxiety resulted in problems in settling to sleep with a sixth child. Behavioral (i.e., extinction, desensitization) and pharmacological (i.e., anticonvulsant) treatment resulted in a substantial reduction in sleeping problems with all children. Follow-up data indicate that effects were maintained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, University of Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Didden
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Curfs
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sikkema
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Moor
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants