Pharmacological & Non-pharmacological Treatment For Insomnia In Children & Adolescents: Evidence & Challenges

Abstract

Insomnia, characterised by difficulties initiating sleep and maintaining sleep, is common in children across development. Prevalence of paediatric insomnia, depending on the defining criteria and study population, ranges from 10% to as high as 80% in children with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric comorbidities. Longitudinal studies have shown that insomnia symptoms in children and adolescents may often persist and are associated with a constellation of negative outcomes, including cognitive and behavioural deficits, interpersonal difficulties, increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders as well as suicide and self-harm behaviours. The causes of insomnia in children and adolescents are often multifactorial, which suggests the importance of comprehensive assessment. Interventions for insomnia in children and adolescents, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, will be reviewed in this talk. Evidence and challenges in the management of paediatric insomnia, particularly in older children and adolescents, will be discussed.