BACKGROUND:Melatonin is often used for autistic children with sleep disorders, despite a lack of published evidence in this population. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial of melatonin was undertaken in 11 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). RESULTS:Seven children completed the trial. Sleep latency was 2.6 h [95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.28-2.93] baseline, 1.91 h (95% CI 1.78-2.03) with placebo and 1.06 h (95% CI 0.98-1.13) with melatonin. Wakings per night were 0.35 (95% CI 0.18-0.53) baseline, 0.26 (95% CI 0.20-0.34) with placebo and 0.08 (95% CI 0.04-0.12) with melatonin. Total sleep duration was 8.05 h (95% CI 7.65-8.44) baseline, 8.75 h (95% CI 8.56-8.98) with placebo and 9.84 h (95% CI 9.68-9.99) with melatonin. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study was small owing to recruitment difficulties, it still provides evidence of effectiveness of melatonin in children with sleep difficulties and ASD, which we predict a larger study would confirm.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Melatonin is often used for autisticchildren with sleep disorders, despite a lack of published evidence in this population. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial of melatonin was undertaken in 11 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). RESULTS: Seven children completed the trial. Sleep latency was 2.6 h [95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.28-2.93] baseline, 1.91 h (95% CI 1.78-2.03) with placebo and 1.06 h (95% CI 0.98-1.13) with melatonin. Wakings per night were 0.35 (95% CI 0.18-0.53) baseline, 0.26 (95% CI 0.20-0.34) with placebo and 0.08 (95% CI 0.04-0.12) with melatonin. Total sleep duration was 8.05 h (95% CI 7.65-8.44) baseline, 8.75 h (95% CI 8.56-8.98) with placebo and 9.84 h (95% CI 9.68-9.99) with melatonin. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study was small owing to recruitment difficulties, it still provides evidence of effectiveness of melatonin in children with sleep difficulties and ASD, which we predict a larger study would confirm.
Authors: Barry Wright; David Sims; Siobhan Smart; Ahmed Alwazeer; Ben Alderson-Day; Victoria Allgar; Clare Whitton; Heather Tomlinson; Sophie Bennett; Jenni Jardine; Nicola McCaffrey; Charlotte Leyland; Christine Jakeman; Jeremy Miles Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2011-02
Authors: Juthamas Wirojanan; Sebastien Jacquemont; Rafael Diaz; Susan Bacalman; Thomas F Anders; Randi J Hagerman; Beth L Goodlin-Jones Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2009-04-15 Impact factor: 4.062