title: Occurrence of epileptiform discharges and sleep during EEG recordings in children after melatonin intake versus sleep-deprivation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if melatonin is equally efficient as partial sleep deprivation in inducing sleep without interfering with epileptiform discharges in EEG recordings in children 1-16 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed 129 EEGs recorded after melatonin intake and 113 EEGs recorded after partial sleep deprivation. Comparisons were made concerning occurrence of epileptiform discharges, the number of children who fell asleep and the technical quality of EEG recordings. Comparison between different age groups was also made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found regarding occurrence of epileptiform discharges (33% after melatonin intake, 36% after sleep deprivation), or proportion of unsuccessful EEGs (8% and 10%, respectively). Melatonin and sleep deprivation were equally efficient in inducing sleep (70% in both groups). Significantly more children aged 1-4 years obtained sleep after melatonin intake in comparison to sleep deprivation (82% vs. 58%, p⩽0.01), and in comparison to older children with melatonin induced sleep (58-67%, p⩽0.05). Sleep deprived children 9-12 years old had higher percentage of epileptiform discharges (62%, p⩽0.05) compared to younger sleep deprived children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melatonin is equally efficient as partial sleep deprivation to induce sleep and does not affect the occurrence of epileptiform discharges in the EEG recording. Sleep deprivation could still be preferable in older children as melatonin probably has less sleep inducing effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melatonin induced sleep have advantages, especially in younger children as they fall asleep easier than after sleep deprivation. The procedure is easier for the parents than keeping a young child awake for half the night.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: greta.gustafsson@lio.se.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Nursing Science, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broström
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulander
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrethem
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svanborg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Children; EEG; Epilepsy; Epileptiform discharges; Melatonin; Sleep deprivation