TY - JOUR
T1 - Sleeping without prescription
T2 - Management of sleep disorders in children with autism with non-pharmacological interventions and over-the-counter treatments
AU - Esposito, Dario
AU - Belli, Arianna
AU - Ferri, Raffaele
AU - Bruni, Oliviero
PY - 2020/7
Y1 - 2020/7
N2 - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by abnormal social interaction, communication, and behavior. Sleep disturbances represent a common comorbidity in children and adolescents with ASD, with prevalence ranging from 50 to 80%. It has been proved that sleep disruption worsens the symptoms of autism and results in challenging behaviors. Improving sleep should therefore be a primary therapeutic goal. Treatment options range from lifestyle modifications to pharmacological therapy. Several reviews have been written on pharmacological treatments, but very few on the beneficial effects of non-pharmacological interventions, over-the-counter drugs, and nutritional supplements. This study consists of a narrative review of the literature, presenting the available evidence on the following treatments: sleep education, behavioral interventions, complementary and alternative medicine (special mattresses and blankets, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, physical activity), and commonly used over-the-counter medications and supplements (antihistamines, melatonin, tryptophan, carnosine, iron, vitamins, and herbal remedies). For some treatments—such as melatonin and behavioral interventions—effectiveness in ASD is well established in the literature, while other interventions appear of benefit in clinical practice, even if specific studies in children and adolescents with ASD are lacking. Conversely, other treatments only seem to show anecdotal evidence supporting their use.
AB - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by abnormal social interaction, communication, and behavior. Sleep disturbances represent a common comorbidity in children and adolescents with ASD, with prevalence ranging from 50 to 80%. It has been proved that sleep disruption worsens the symptoms of autism and results in challenging behaviors. Improving sleep should therefore be a primary therapeutic goal. Treatment options range from lifestyle modifications to pharmacological therapy. Several reviews have been written on pharmacological treatments, but very few on the beneficial effects of non-pharmacological interventions, over-the-counter drugs, and nutritional supplements. This study consists of a narrative review of the literature, presenting the available evidence on the following treatments: sleep education, behavioral interventions, complementary and alternative medicine (special mattresses and blankets, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, physical activity), and commonly used over-the-counter medications and supplements (antihistamines, melatonin, tryptophan, carnosine, iron, vitamins, and herbal remedies). For some treatments—such as melatonin and behavioral interventions—effectiveness in ASD is well established in the literature, while other interventions appear of benefit in clinical practice, even if specific studies in children and adolescents with ASD are lacking. Conversely, other treatments only seem to show anecdotal evidence supporting their use.
KW - Antihistamines
KW - Autism
KW - Behavioral
KW - Complementary and alternative medicine
KW - Herbal medicine
KW - Melatonin
KW - Non-pharmacological
KW - Over-the-counter
KW - Sleep
KW - Supplement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089570156&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85089570156&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/brainsci10070441
DO - 10.3390/brainsci10070441
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85089570156
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 30
JO - Brain Sciences
JF - Brain Sciences
SN - 2076-3425
IS - 7
M1 - 441
ER -