Melatonin Treatment in Children with Developmental Disabilities.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review recent studies on the efficacy and safety of melatonin in treating sleep problems in children with developmental disabilities.
Results Summary
Short-term melatonin treatment significantly reduced sleep onset latency in most developmental disabilities, except tuberous sclerosis. Side effects were rare and mild.
Population
Children with developmental disabilities
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Short-term (exact duration not specified)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | sleep problems | children with developmental disabilities | - | commonly recommended to treat | #1 |
melatonin | no change | efficacy and safety | these populations | - | few studies document | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | sleep onset latency time | each of the disorders reviewed | - | associated with a significant decrease | #3 |
melatonin | no change | sleep onset latency time | tuberous sclerosis | - | 1 notable exception | #4 |
melatonin | no change | side effects | - | - | uncommon and mild | #5 |
Melatonin is commonly recommended to treat sleep problems in children with developmental disabilities. However, few studies document the efficacy and safety of melatonin in these populations. This article reviews recent studies of melatonin efficacy in developmental disabilities. Overall, short treatment trials were associated with a significant decrease in sleep onset latency time for each of the disorders reviewed, with 1 notable exception-tuberous sclerosis. Reported side effects were uncommon and mild. Across disorders, additional research is needed to draw disability-specific conclusions. However, studies to date provide positive support for future trials that include larger groups of children with specific disabilities/syndromes.