Effects of Melatonin and Bright Light Treatment in Childhood Chronic Sleep Onset Insomnia With Late Melatonin Onset: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of melatonin and bright light therapy versus placebo in children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset.
Results Summary
Melatonin and light therapy reduced sleep latency and advanced sleep onset, with melatonin showing stronger effects. Melatonin also advanced DLMO and improved sleep efficiency and sleep time, though it increased wake after sleep onset.
Population
84 children (mean age 10.0 years, 61% boys) with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
3 to 4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin treatment | decrease | sleep latency (sleep diary) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | decreased | #1 |
light therapy | decrease | sleep latency (sleep diary) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | decreased | #2 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | sleep onset (sleep diary) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | advanced | #3 |
light therapy | decrease | sleep onset (sleep diary) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | advanced | #4 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | sleep onset (actigraphy) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | advanced | #5 |
light therapy | decrease | sleep onset (actigraphy) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | advanced | #6 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | advanced | #7 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | sleep latency (actigraphy data) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | had positive effects on | #8 |
melatonin treatment | increase | sleep efficiency (actigraphy data) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | had positive effects on | #9 |
melatonin treatment | increase | sleep time (sleep diary data) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | had positive effects on | #10 |
melatonin treatment | increase | sleep time (actigraphy data) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | had positive effects on | #11 |
melatonin treatment | increase | wake after sleep onset (actigraphy) | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | increased | #12 |
melatonin treatment | no change | chronic sleep reduction | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | No effects on | #13 |
light therapy | no change | chronic sleep reduction | children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset | - | No effects on | #14 |
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Chronic sleep onset insomnia with late melatonin onset is prevalent in childhood, and has negative daytime consequences. Melatonin treatment is known to be effective in treating these sleep problems. Bright light therapy might be an alternative treatment, with potential advantages over melatonin treatment. In this study, we compare the effects of melatonin and bright light treatment with a placebo condition in children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset. METHODS: Eighty-four children (mean age 10.0 years, 61% boys) first entered a baseline week, after which they received melatonin (N = 26), light (N = 30), or placebo pills (N = 28) for 3 to 4 weeks. Sleep was measured daily with sleep diaries and actigraphy. Before and after treatment children completed a questionnaire on chronic sleep reduction, and Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) was measured. Results were analyzed with linear mixed model analyses. RESULTS: Melatonin treatment and light therapy decreased sleep latency (sleep diary) and advanced sleep onset (sleep diary and actigraphy), although for sleep onset the effects of melatonin were stronger. In addition, melatonin treatment advanced DLMO and had positive effects on sleep latency and sleep efficiency (actigraphy data), and sleep time (sleep diary and actigraphy data). However, wake after sleep onset (actigraphy) increased with melatonin treatment. No effects on chronic sleep reduction were found. CONCLUSIONS: We found positive effects of both melatonin and light treatment on various sleep outcomes, but more and stronger effects were found for melatonin treatment.