• Home
  • Store
    • Newsletter Subscriptions
    • Multimedia
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN SA Courses
    • Social Work Courses
  • CME Center
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Blog
    • Psychiatry News Videos
    • Medication Guide Videos
  • Newsletters
    • General Psychiatry
    • Child Psychiatry
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Hospital Psychiatry
    • Geriatric Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapy and Social Work
  • FAQs
  • Med Fact Book App
  • Log In
  • Register
  • Welcome
  • Sign Out
  • Subscribe
Home » The Pharmacological Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children: An Overview

The Pharmacological Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children: An Overview

March 1, 2011
From The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
Issue Links: Learning Objectives | Editorial Information | PDF of Issue
Caroline Fisher, PhD, MD. 

Childhood sleep problems are common, and most practitioners wind up prescribing or recommending something for sleep for a significant portion of their patients. Impaired or insufficient sleep can account for many of the symptoms of childhood depression (low mood, irritability, low energy), as well as many of the symptoms of ADHD (inability to focus, daydreaming, hyperactivity, impulsivity), and even aggression and anxiety (O’Brien LM, Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2009;18(4):813–823).

In this issue of CCPR, Dr. Adhami gives us lots to think about in terms of what might be impairing sleep, and Dr. Wright makes some excellent points about what may not be impairing sleep, as well as some interesting suggestions on how to treat sleep problems, real or imagined, without medication.

A large meta-analysis of psychological treatments for insomnia in adults found an average effect size over 0.8 (a large effect) for sleep onset latency and total sleep time and nocturnal awakenings, with the greatest improvement seen in patients using relaxation techniques (Murtagh DRR and Greenwood KM, J Consult Clin Psychol 1995;63(1):79–89). Psychological treatments don’t always translate well to children, though, particularly hyperactive ones, and some families are not able to follow through with practice.

In a survey of child psychiatrists, 90% had recommended some pharmacological intervention in the past month for sleep (Owens JA et al, Sleep Med 2010;11(7):692–700). In the accompanying table are several things commonly used for sleep, as well as my own thoughts about them and the research behind them, if any.

In many cases, however, treatment of the underlying disorder may be the treatment of choice for the sleep disorder as well. For example, in a study by Kallepalli et al in adolescent inpatients, trazodone was found to regularize sleep only three days faster, on average, than fluoxetine (Kallepalli BR et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharm 1997;7(2):97–107).

However, the converse can also be true: adults given prazosin for nightmares in the context of PTSD improved in overall symptomatology when their sleep improved (Gehrman PR and Harb GC, J Clin Psychol 2010;66(11):1185–1194). For those kids who need a sleeper, the table on page 2 has a number of possibilities. Imipramine, desipramine, and zolpidem have been left off the table as there are studies showing a lack of efficacy for sleep in children.
Child Psychiatry
KEYWORDS child-psychiatry
    www.thecarlatreport.com
    Issue Date: March 1, 2011
    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Table Of Contents
    The Pharmacological Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children: An Overview
    Insomnia and Mood Disorders in Adolescents
    Normal and Disordered Sleep in Kids
    Normal Sleep Requirements for Healthy Kids
    Girls More Likely to Have Recurrent Depression
    Single Therapy Session Works to Reduce Violence and Alcohol Misuse
    DOWNLOAD NOW
    Featured Book
    • PB4e_Cover2.png

      Psychiatry Practice Boosters, Fourth Edition (2023)

      Teaches you the key points of 63 of the most clinically relevant studies in psychiatry.
      READ MORE
    Featured Video
    • KarXT (Cobenfy)_ The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      KarXT (Cobenfy): The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything

      Read More
    Featured Podcast
    • shutterstock_2432683359.jpg
      Child Psychiatry

      Hidden Dangers: The Fentanyl Crisis and Teen Overdose Prevention

      The Fentanyl overdose crisis is now one of the leading causes of death among adolescents, and it is happening in every corner of the country. Stay with us as we talk about the...
      Listen now
    Recommended
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png

    About

    • About Us
    • CME Center
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

    Shop Online

    • Newsletters
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN Self-Assessment Courses

    Newsletters

    • The Carlat Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report
    • The Carlat Hospital Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Psychotherapy Report

    Contact

    carlat@thecarlatreport.com

    866-348-9279

    PO Box 626, Newburyport MA 01950

    Follow Us

    Please see our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Subscription Agreement, Use of Cookies, and Hardware/Software Requirements to view our website.

    © 2025 Carlat Publishing, LLC and Affiliates, All Rights Reserved.