title: Pediatric insomnia: new insights in clinical assessment and treatment options.
abstract: Sleep disorders in children can compromise quality of life of both children and families and chronic sleep deprivations is associated with poorer developmental outcome, overweight and behavioral disturbances. Clinicians should incorporate questions about sleep into their routine health assessment, and the assessment of insomnia should follow a medical approach primary and secondary contributing factors should be assessed, as well as maladaptive behaviors related to sleep. A careful examination of sleep/wake schedule, abnormal movements or behavior during sleep, and daytime consequences of sleep disruption or deprivation is mandatory. Sleeping environment, and bedtime routines should be examined to identify behavioral issues related to sleep. Polysomnography is not routinely indicated for children with insomnia, but actigraphy can give an objective estimation of sleep parameters. The Authors propose a new classification of pediatric insomnia, based on both genetic and clinical aspects, and suggest specific treatment options, including sleep hygiene, behavioral strategies and pharmacological treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University Via dei Marsi 78 - 00185 Rome, Italy. Email: oliviero.bruni@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Oliviero
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angriman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants