Enhancement in sleep duration and quality observed through behavioral intervention strategies
In a groundbreaking study led by researchers at the ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Netherlands, a behavioral intervention program has shown promising results in improving sleep patterns in children with Angelman Syndrome.
The study, published in the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities, involved 18 children with Angelman Syndrome who were experiencing sleep problems. The children were divided equally into an intervention group and a control group.
The behavioral intervention program, based on a standardized protocol for children with developmental delays, was enriched specifically for Angelman Syndrome. The intervention group received personalized advice from a behavioral therapist at home for six weeks, with booster sessions at eight and 10 weeks. On the other hand, the control group was given a report on the baseline assessment of sleep characteristics and general advice on sleep hygiene.
The study used actigraphy and videosomnography to measure sleep parameters. The findings suggest a positive and persistent effect of the behavioral intervention on total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, sleep hygiene, and several quality of life domains in children with Angelman Syndrome.
At baseline, the intervention group had significantly shorter total sleep time of parents. However, by the end of the study, total sleep time stably improved from baseline to week 12 and to week 26 in the intervention group.
Sleep onset latency was significantly reduced in the intervention group at week 26, as measured by parent diary and actigraphy. Waking after sleep onset was significantly better on week 12, and the number of awakenings was significantly better on week 26, as measured by videosomnography. The intervention group also showed a significant improvement in sleep hygiene by weeks 12 and 26, as measured with the Children's Sleep Hygiene Scale.
Moreover, a significant reduction in nighttime parent visits was observed in the intervention group at week 26. The sleep problems included sleeping less than normal, requiring more rituals to fall asleep, and scoring higher than four in a composite sleep index.
The study also recommends a stepped-care approach to diminish sleep problems in children with Angelman Syndrome. This approach includes psycho-education, evaluation by a behavioral therapist, individual behavioral advice, and the use of specific behavioral techniques. At the study's end, control parents received tailored sleep advice.
The findings suggest that this behavioral intervention has a positive and persistent effect on sleep problems in children with Angelman Syndrome. The study is a significant step forward in addressing the sleep issues that are common in this group of children.
