Sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness in adolescents and young adults with Williams syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disorders are common in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and may adversely affect daytime functioning. Children with Williams syndrome have been reported to have disturbed sleep; however, no studies have been performed to determine if these problems continue into adolescence and adulthood.


METHODS
This study examined overnight sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness in 23 adolescents and adults with Williams syndrome age 25.5 (8.0) years [mean (SD)]. Interviewer-administered sleep questionnaires were used to evaluate nighttime sleep behaviours and daytime sleepiness. Wrist actigraphy was used to evaluate sleep patterns.


RESULTS
Although individuals in our sample averaged 9 h in bed at night, daytime sleepiness and measures of sleep disruption were common and comparable to those of other populations with neurodevelopmental disorders. These measures included reduced sleep efficiency [74.4 (7.0)%] with prolonged sleep latency [37.7 (37.3) min], increased wake time after sleep onset [56.1 (17.6) min], and an elevated movement and fragmentation index [14.3 (4.6)].


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents and young adults with Williams syndrome were found to be sleepy despite averaging 9 h in bed at night. Implications are discussed for associated causes of sleep disruption and future polysomnographic evaluation.
Goldman
S E
SE
Sleep Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. suzanne.e.goldman@vanderbilt.edu
Malow
B A
BA
Newman
K D
KD
Roof
E
E
Dykens
E M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult