Abstract
Background
We use the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) routinely as a tool for evaluating
children's sleep quality in our pediatric neurology clinic. We analyzed at its ability
to detect sleep disturbances distinctive to selected neurological disorders.
Patients
One-hundred and eighty-six children (age range 2-18 years) who were evaluated by the
SDSC questionnaire were divided into three groups according to their principal diagnosis:
epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or others. Their responses were
analyzed.
Results
The average frequency of abnormal total sleep score was 26.9%. The most frequent sleep
disorders were excessive somnolence (25.3%), initiating and maintaining sleep (24.7%),
and arousal/nightmares (23.1%). There were no significant group differences for total
scores or sleep disorder–specific scores; although a sleep–wake transition disorder
was more frequent among children with epilepsy (31%). A literature search revealed
that the frequency of abnormal total scores in several neurological disorders (e.g.,
epilepsy, cerebral palsy) ranges between 20% and 30%.
Conclusions
The mechanism underlying sleep disturbances in many neurological disorders may be
unrelated to that of the primary disease but rather originate from nonspecific or
environmental factors (e.g., familial/social customs and habits, temperament, psychological
parameters). Although the SDSC is noninformative for studying the effect of a specific
neurological disorder on sleep, we still recommend its implementation for screening
for sleep disturbances in children with neurological abnormalities.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 30, 2013
Accepted:
June 14,
2013
Received:
May 2,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
