One in every three children or teenagers undergoing psychiatric care has trouble sleeping, according to a new study from Hasbro Children's Hospital in Rhode Island. Their doctors are very likely to recommend sleeping pills.
- Dr. Judith Owens and her colleagues surveyed 1,273 doctors who belong to the American Academy of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry.
- While the vast majority expressed concern about prescribing medications or recommending over-the-counter drugs for insomnia to children, such treatment was the most common clinical practice.
- The doctors in the survey were less likely to tell pediatric patients to use nondrug approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and sleep restriction.
"The most important rationale for the use of sleep medication among child psychiatrists is to manage the effects of sleep disruption on daytime functioning. It is important to note that concerns about side effects and the lack of evidence regarding their effectiveness were cited as significant barriers to their use," said Dr. Owens.
The study appears in the journal Sleep Medicine.
Labels: sleep, sleep problems
Posted By: Aspen Education Group