title: Melatonin treatment in adolescents with delayed sleep phase syndrome.
abstract: This retrospective study describes the effects of long-term treatment with melatonin in 33 adolescents (age range, 10-18 years) with delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). Patients were treated with oral melatonin, 3 to 5 mg/day for an average period of 6 months. During the treatment, sleep onset was advanced and sleep duration was longer. Treatment was also associated with a decrease in the proportion of patients reporting school difficulties. No adverse effects of melatonin were noted. This study indicates that long-term treatment with melatonin can be beneficial for adolescents with DSPS in terms of sleep-wake schedule and school performance.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fatigue and Sleep Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szeinberg
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borodkin
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dagan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin