title: Parent-based sleep education for children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: This study provided sleep education to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to determine whether an individual or group format was more effective in improving sleep and aspects of daytime behavior and family functioning. Eighty children, ages 2-10 years, with ASD and sleep onset delay completed the study. Actigraphy and parent questionnaires were collected at baseline and 1 month after treatment. Mode of education did not affect outcomes. Sleep latency, insomnia subscales on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and other outcomes related to child and family functioning improved with treatment. Parent-based sleep education, delivered in relatively few sessions, was associated with improved sleep onset delay in children with ASD. Group versus individualized education did not affect outcome.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Room A-0116, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA, beth.malow@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Malow
authors.forename: Karen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Shelly K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fawkes
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Niru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madduri
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hundley
authors.forename: Traci
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clemons
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires