title: Sleep disturbances in preschool age children with cerebral palsy: a questionnaire study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to analyze (i) the prevalence of sleep disorders in pre-school children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), (ii) the possible association with motor, cognitive and behavioral problems, and (iii) the possible differences with typically developing children matched for age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred children with CP (age range: 3-5 years, mean: 3.8 years) were assessed using the SDSC, the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, and the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) to assess sleep, motor, cognitive, and behavioral problems, respectively. Further 100 healthy children matched for age and sex were assessed using the SDSC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An abnormal total sleep score was found in 13% of children with CP while 35% had an abnormal score on at least one SDSC factor. SDSC total score was significantly associated with pathological internalizing scores on CBCL and active epilepsy on multivariate analysis. CP group reported higher significant median scores on SDSC total, parasomnias, and difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In pre-school children sleep disorders are more common in children with CP than in healthy control group and are often associated with epilepsy and behavioral problems.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brogna
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Unit, C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baranello
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Unit, C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagliano
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurology Unit, C. Besta Neurological Institute Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Casalino
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallardi
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivo
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Centre for Pediatric Sleep Disorders, Department of Social and Developmental Psychology - Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Oliviero
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mercuri@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercuri
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Behavioral problems; Cerebral palsy; Control group; Epilepsy; Pre-school age; Sleep disorders