The Utility of Melatonin for the Treatment of Sleep Disturbance After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin supplementation | no change | tolerability | individuals with sleep disturbance after traumatic brain injury (TBI) | - | has good tolerability after short-term use | #1 |
melatonin | increase | subjective sleep quality | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | significant improvements in | #2 |
melatonin | increase | objective sleep efficiency | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | significant improvements in | #3 |
melatonin | increase | total sleep time | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | significant improvements in | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | self-reported fatigue | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | reductions in | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | anxiety | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | reductions in | #6 |
melatonin | decrease | depressive symptoms | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | reductions in | #7 |
melatonin | no change | adverse events | participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance | - | no serious adverse events were reported after | #8 |
melatonin | increase | sleep quality | individuals with sleep disturbance after TBI | - | beneficial to | #9 |
melatonin | increase | sleep duration | individuals with sleep disturbance after TBI | - | beneficial to | #10 |
melatonin | increase | sleep efficiency | individuals with sleep disturbance after TBI | - | beneficial to | #11 |
melatonin | increase | mental health | individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders of mood and sleep disturbance post-injury | - | improved | #12 |
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of melatonin supplementation as a treatment option for individuals with sleep disturbance after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in 6 electronic databases (Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus) from earliest records to April 2022. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: a) human participants with sleep disturbance after TBI, b) melatonin or melatonergic agent used as an intervention to treat sleep disturbance, and c) outcomes of melatonin administration reported. All TBI severity types (mild, moderate, and severe) were eligible. The initial search retrieved a total of 595 articles, with 9 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently extracted data from eligible studies and assessed methodological quality. Extracted data consisted of participant and injury characteristics, melatonin interventional properties, and sleep outcome. Methodological quality was assessed via the Downs and Black checklist. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 251 participants with TBI-induced sleep disturbance (mean age range: 14.0-42.5 years) were included. Melatonin, Circadin (prolonged-release melatonin), or Ramelteon (melatonin receptor agonist) were administered. Dosages and intervention duration ranged from 2 to 10 mg and 3 to 12 weeks, respectively. Eight out of 9 studies reported positive outcomes after melatonin treatment. Significant improvements in subjective sleep quality, objective sleep efficiency, and total sleep time were found with melatonin. Reductions in self-reported fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were also observed with melatonin treatment. No serious adverse events were reported after melatonin administration. CONCLUSION: Melatonin has good tolerability after short-term use and the potential to be a therapeutic agent for those with sleep disturbance after TBI. Melatonin was shown to be beneficial to sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep efficiency. Additional clinically relevant outcomes of improved mental health suggest that melatonin use may be a promising treatment option for individuals experiencing co-occurring disorders of mood and sleep disturbance post-injury.