Sleep in Autism
Abstract
Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has increased in prevalence over the last several decades. A significant proportion of children with ASD have comorbid sleep disorders. The interplay between ASD and sleep is multifactorial and bidirectional. There is evidence for physiological differences in ASD that contribute to sleep problems, including sensory overresponsiveness (SOR) and abnormal melatonin production. Comorbidities associated with ASD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], mood disorders) as well as medications used to treat these comorbidities often have effects on sleep architecture. In this article the authors discuss the etiology and manifestations of sleep disorders in children with ASD, as well as their clinical evaluation and treatment options.
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Sleep issues can lead to challenging daytime behaviors like hyperactivity, inattention, and interfering ritualistic behavior.
“Sleep issues can lead to challenging daytime behaviors like hyperactivity, inattention, and interfering ritualistic behavior [44].”
From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [44]
The psychiatric and medical co-occurring conditions that contribute to sleep problems in ASD include anxiety, depression, ADHD, GI problems, epilepsy, and certain medications that impact sleep.
“The psychiatric and medical co-occurring conditions that contribute to sleep problems in ASD include anxiety, depression, ADHD, GI problems, epilepsy, and certain medications that impact sleep [44].”
From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [44]
Cites
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Inherited and de novo genetic risk for autism impacts shared networks
Ruzzo, E. K., Pérez-Cano, L., Jung, J.-Y., Wang, L.-K., Kashef-Haghighi, D., Hartl, C., Singh, C., Xu, J., Hoekstra, J. N., Leventhal, O., et al. (2019) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2019.07.015 · Cited by 457 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Malow, B., & Maxwell-Horn, A.
- Affiliations
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center (US)
- Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Maxwell-Horn, Angela
- Venue
- Seminars in Neurology
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 04
- Pages
- 413-418
- ISSN
- 0271-8235 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-9021
- OpenAlex
- W2747132586
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 3.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Seminars in Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, sleep disorders, melatonin, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, sleep architecture, sleep medication, children
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child, Humans, Sleep Wake Disorders
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