Pediatric Insomnia: Update and Future Directions

Abstract

Throughout their childhood, pediatric insomnia impacts approximately 25% of all children in the general population. Although it can occur as an isolated condition, it commonly associates with other comorbidities, such as autism, developmental delay, and psychiatric disorders. Careful and detailed history is essential, and sleep logs and actigraphy are useful tools in the assessment and diagnosis of pediatric insomnia. However, polysomnography is usually not warranted in the assessment of pediatric insomnia unless underlying medically-based sleep symptoms are concurrently identified and justify such test. In the majority of cases, behavioral interventions are the recommended approach for treatment. Despite the fact that many pharmacological approaches are used for child insomnia off-label, there are currently no FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved medications for the management of pediatric insomnia. The high prevalence of pediatric insomnia, coupled with the low number of providers, who are formally trained in behavioral treatment for this prevalent condition, highlights the urgent need for improving primary care practitioner awareness, while expanding alternative routes to access to care, such as interactive virtual technology-based treatments, parent education and manuals, along with ongoing efforts to increase professional training opportunities.

 

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Keywords

pediatric - insomnia - review

Introduction

There is little if any doubt that adequate sleep is an essential ingredient of wellness and the enhanced sleep needs manifested by developing children further attest to the importance of this physiological state in optimal growth and intellectual and emotional development. However, the naturally occurring rhythms of wake-sleep in children undergo substantial age-dependent changes that frequently conflict with established activity patterns of their parents. Furthermore, the complex dynamics of physical and emotional interactions between child, parents, and environment are susceptible to disruption and can easily lead to suboptimal sleep for anyone in the dyad. When suboptimal sleep develops a chronic longer lasting pattern, the diagnostic concept of insomnia needs to be invoked and pursued to identify the factors and trigger underlying such issue and proceed with the necessary interventional steps that will lead to a return to the optimal equilibrium of sleep and waking for each of the family members.

The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature pertaining to pediatric insomnia.[1] To achieve a common terminology, we will start by explaining what we mean when we use the term “pediatric insomnia.” Generally speaking, insomnia refers to having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As a result, insomnia sufferers may get too little sleep or have poor-quality sleep. However, insomnia can be acute or chronic, with acute insomnia often being brought on by situations such as stress, acute illness, or any other perturbation, and usually lasting for a few days or weeks. By definition according to the last iteration of the third International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3), the problem occurs at least three times per week, and the sleep disturbance and associated daytime symptoms have been present for at least 3 months.[2] In this context, the patient reports, or the patient's parents or caregivers observe, one or more of the following:

• Difficulty initiating sleep.

• Difficulty maintaining sleep.

• Waking up earlier than desired.

• Resistance going to bed on appropriate schedule

• Difficulty sleeping without parent or caregiver intervention

Importantly, the reported sleep/wake complaints cannot be explained purely by inadequate opportunity (i.e., enough time allotted for sleep) or inadequate circumstances (i.e., the environment is safe, dark, quiet, and comfortable) for sleep.

In ICSD-2, the term “Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood, Sleep Onset Association Type” was used to describe children who learned to fall asleep through behaviorally established pattern associated with external conditions. For example, those children who fell asleep being rocked by a caretaker or held in the arms by a parent, and then struggle to return to sleep without a parent present or without continued rocking motion were defined by this diagnosis. Children who struggled to follow bedtime rules and exhibited protests or tantrums at bedtime were diagnosed with “Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood, Limit Setting Type.” Children exhibited features of both conditions were diagnosed with “Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood, Combined Type.”[3]

Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood diagnoses were often used to describe the sleep challenges in younger children. Older children and teenagers often exhibited symptoms more closely resembling adult challenges. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, second edition, used the term psychophysiological insomnia to describe those who experienced a cycle where sleep struggles would evoke a state of physiological, cognitive, and emotional arousal which would then create more insomnia.[3] While this diagnosis is more commonly used to describe adult patients, many pediatric insomnia providers also used this diagnosis to describe older children and teenagers presenting with such symptoms. However, studies showed that when large groups of providers diagnosed the same patients, poor diagnostic consistency emerged,[4] prompting the need for consensus documents.[5] Therefore, ICSD-3 was released in 2014 which changed the approach to diagnosing insomnia. As mentioned above, the current classification manual uses insomnia disorder to describe difficulties falling asleep or returning to sleep in children and adults. This disorder is only diagnosed in the context of adequate sleep opportunity and resulting distress or functional impairment. The specification “acute” is utilized for those who present symptoms less than 3 months and report symptom resolution when the triggering stressor resolves. The term “chronic” is utilized for those who report symptoms at least three nights per week for at least 3 months. They include an “other” specification option for those who do not fit into acute or chronic diagnostic criteria. While the Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood and Psychophysiological Insomnia diagnoses are no longer listed in the manual, many providers still utilize the former approaches to explain or describe insomnia and conceptualize cases. Such descriptions illustrate the struggle of the patients and their families and help explain the rationale for behavioral treatment strategies.

 

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Prevalence

Pediatric insomnia impacts approximately 25% of children in the general population.[6] [7] Owens and colleagues[8] found that insomnia was reported in almost one third of patients referred for evaluation to a psychiatrist. Insomnia complaints are also reported in 10.7% of adolescents,[9] a prevalence that is remarkably similar to the estimated 6 to 10% of adults meeting criteria for chronic insomnia.[10] [11] However, insomnia in children is often an underdiagnosed condition in primary care settings, further attesting to the need for additional education and support of primary care providers in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sleep disorders.[12] Furthermore, significant interactions between gender and age are apparent in school age children, such that the prevalence of insomnia symptoms is highest in girls aged 11 to 12 years (approximately 30%).[13] [14] We should however emphasize that insomnia does not include children who simply suffer from poor sleep hygiene issues in the household and whose habits result in insufficient sleep duration, even if the latter is increasingly prevalent in the context of explosive increase in screen use including at bedtime.[15] [16]

 

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Etiology

Owens and Moore[17] summarized the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that associate with an increased risk of insomnia in children. Intrinsic factors are predisposing elements and inborn features of the child that promote potential behaviors which if persistent my translate into the typical phenotype of insomnia.[18] If a baby is born with a colicky temperament, this can create an intrinsic vulnerability for sleep troubles.[19] Medical issues, such as gastroesophageal reflux, atopic dermatitis, periodic legs, sleep apnea, or milk allergies are all factors that can interfere with sleep continuity and trouble sleep architecture. An inborn delayed or advanced circadian clock tendency can impact the rhythmicity and timing of melatonin secretion patterns and promote the misalignment that favors the occurrence of insomnia. Developmental delay and psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder) can all foster delayed or dysfunctional learning of self-soothing which may also result in troubles with sleep onset or sleep maintenance that may persist well into adolescence and beyond (see [Figs. 1], [2]).[20] [21] [22] In contrast, “extrinsic factors” are defined as environmental aspects or patterned caregiver responses that can promote the occurrence and perpetuation of insomnia in children. An important facet of such factors resides in the presence of medical or psychiatric disorders in a caregiver and transfer of some behavioral cues to their children, such as ultimately increasing the risk of sleep problems when their response to children during the night is impacted by their own struggles. Inconsistent parenting styles induce intermittent reinforcement of sleep behaviors which can also result in difficulty with the acquisition of consistent sleep onset maintenance for children. Living conditions, such as shared or distracting bedroom environments can increase the risk of insomnia in children as well.[23]

Fig. 1 Proposed approach to bedtime resistance or prolonged sleep latency in children (modified from Owens and Moore, 2017).

Fig. 2 Proposed approach to evaluation and management of frequent night waking in children (modified from Owens and Moore, 2017)

 

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Impact

Children with sleep difficulties experience multiple related consequences.[24] [25] From a mood standpoint, children with insomnia, similar to adults, are more vulnerable to irritability and frustration intolerance and such effects may persist for many years.[26] Those who struggle with psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) are at increased risk for such symptoms following nights with insomnia symptoms. Academic consequences are also a well-documented effect of sleep loss or insomnia. Children experience cognitive effects from insufficient sleep which likely play a significant role in such performance effects.[20]

Children with insomnia may also experience adverse cognitive and behavioral impact that closely mirrors symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While adults with insomnia may present as slow or lethargic as a result of sleep loss, children often present with hyperactivity. As a result, children are at risk for being misdiagnosed with ADHD if proper screening of sleep disorders is not conducted leading to escalation of poor health.[28]

Parent stress can also result from insomnia in children. Indeed, poorer physical and mental health is found in parents of children with insomnia compared with controls.[29]

 

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Assessment

The standard approach to assessment of pediatric insomnia starts with a thorough and detailed clinical interview.[30] An in-depth developmental, medical, and psychiatric history, as well as exclusion of medically-based sleep symptoms, is mandatory during the clinical interview (for a brief schematic guide see [Figs. 1], [2]). Particular emphasis on collection of sleep schedules information, sleep habits, bedtime routines, and characteristics of the sleep environment are all integral components of the clinical interview pertaining to pediatric insomnia.

Subjective measures can also be utilized to assess pediatric insomnia. A study conducted by Ivanenko and colleagues[31] found that the majority of children with insomnia present with concurrent psychiatric symptoms. They list the following scales as options for assessing psychiatric symptoms in this population: behavior-assessment system for children (BASC), pediatric symptom checklist (PSC), and clinical attention problem scale (CAPS). Use of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire[32] and the Pediatric Insomnia Severity Index[33] are also commonly utilized to assess insomnia in children. Additional tools have also emerged for specific evaluation of pediatric insomnia in different age groups and the current advice would be to critically appraise such tools in the context of the local practice, such as to improve their consistency, reliability, and value in the long-term follow-up of the patients.[34]

Sleep diaries are typically provided at the culmination of the initial visit with an insomnia patient. Sleep diaries are logs in which parents' track their “best guess” about what happened the night before with their child's sleep. Sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, time in bed, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency can be estimated from the sleep diary. Such data are often calculated on a weekly basis during treatment to compare pretreatment features numbers to intratherapy averages and provide families and the clinician with some feedback estimate on whether treatment is effective or not.

Actigraphy is a commonly used objective tool in the assessment of pediatric insomnia. Actigraphic devices are wrist-worn motion detection systems (accelerometers) and provide reliable degrees of sleep estimates even if their accuracy is fraught with limitations.[35] [36] [37] [38] [39] After the patient wears the actigraphic device for approximately 2 weeks, data are downloaded through custom software whereby a validated algorithm enables inferential decisions of sleep versus wake, such as to generate a summary of estimated sleep characteristics on a nightly basis. In addition to charts with data summaries, families, and referral sources are provided with a visual depiction of sleep-wake patterns (i.e., actogram). Dayyat et al[36] compared the accuracy of parent estimates via sleep diaries to objective tracking via actigraphy. They found that while parents effectively described symptoms of insomnia using sleep diaries, accuracy of sleep onset latency and total sleep time as estimated by parents was quite limited when compared with actigraphy.

As a rule of thumb, overnight polysomnography is not indicated in the assessment of pediatric insomnia.[40] During the clinical interview, if patients report symptoms of sleep apnea or medically-based sleep disorders, polysomnography is then deemed appropriate. When the clinician suspects such symptoms are causing the patient's insomnia complaints, the sleep study is often ordered prior to treating insomnia and insomnia treatment can be delayed or cancelled if medical treatment addresses such complaints. If the insomnia complaints preceded the medically-based symptoms and are suspected as constituting separate entities, initiation of insomnia treatment concurrent with the evaluation of medically-based sleep disorders is often pursued.

 

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Treatment

Behavioral treatment is the current recommendation for first line treatment of pediatric insomnia.[41] Recent meta-analysis evaluating eligible studies of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) with children and adolescents consistently found that CBT-I significantly improved sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency in children and adolescents with chronic insomnia.[42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51]

Meltzer provided a detailed summary of how to apply evidence-based behavioral strategies for insomnia in young children[52] (2010). She described the importance of a consistent sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine for all children. She also reviewed use of standard extinction or graduated extinction protocols for children with sleep onset association insomnia (e.g., learned to fall asleep with a parent present). Meltzer explained that standard extinction involves putting a child down awake but drowsy and not returning until morning (ignoring all crying and protests). Graduated extinction incorporates a slow removal of parent presence (e.g., moving further away from the bed every few nights and incorporation of scheduling checks at increasing time intervals). To address limit-setting issues, she described use of reinforcement programs and behavior charts to encourage desired behavior as well as active ignoring of unwanted behavior.[52]

As mentioned in a review by Tikotzky and Sadeh,[53] insomnia in older children or adolescents is often resembles symptoms presented by adults. A focus on use of similar strategies utilized for adults is also discussed. The American College of Physicians released a paper in 2016 stating that Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first line recommendation for chronic insomnia.[54] Use of sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, stimulus control, relaxation strategies, and cognitive sessions (e.g., worry-time and cognitive restructuring) are utilized in CBT-I ([Table 1]). Pediatric versions of these strategies have been developed to address age-related needs ([Table 2]). In addition, web-based interventions are also gaining popularity in light of their relative success.[55] [56] [57]

Table 1 Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia–overall strategies

Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I)
Session strategy	Rationale	Treatment components
Sleep hygiene	Poor sleep habits exacerbate insomnia	Turn off electronics 1 h before bedtime Stop exercise 3 h before bedtime Avoid heavy or spicy foods 3 h before bedtime White noise and blackout shades Relaxing pre-sleep ritual Avoid caffeine 8–10 h before bedtime Sleep in a cool temperature room
Sleep restriction	Reduced time in bed increased sleep drive or sleep pressure Increased sleep drive or sleep pressure deceases insomnia	Collect baseline average total sleep time from sleep diaries or sleep logs Prescribe time in bed based on estimated average total sleep time at baseline Prescribed time in bed can anchor at the earliest documented wake time Calculate sleep efficiency (i.e., percentage of time sleeping relative to time in bed) and total sleep time using sleep diaries or sleep logs at each subsequent visit Add 20 min to sleep window each week where significant increase in sleep efficiency is documented (e.g., often aiming for 85–90% sleep efficiency)
Stimulus control	Classical conditioning based on Pavlovian theory explains the perpetuation of insomnia Repeated pairing of the bed plus wakefulness, thinking or emotional distress ultimately leads the bed to cue a state of wakefulness, thinking, or emotional distress	Stay out of the bed from wake time to bedtime If it has been 15–20 min (or as soon as emotional distress is experienced), get out of bed and read a book or magazine for 5–10 min Get out of bed after 5–10 min of reading If you get back to bed and again struggle with sleep, go back out of the bed and read again Use this approach at the start of the night, in the middle of the night and for early morning awakenings
Relaxation strategies	Increased somatic arousal interferes with sleep transition	Diaphragmatic breathing: slowly inhale through the nose for 3–4 s while belly expands, hold the breath expanded for 1–2 s, and then slowly exhale through the mouth for 3–4 s while belly falls Positive imagery: Imagine yourself in a scene that gives a feeling of calm and relaxation; picture all sensory experiences of that scene; when the mind wanders, gently redirect to the scene Progressive muscle relaxation: Go through each muscle group, starting with your legs and moving slowly up to your forehead, and tense for 7 s then relax for 7 s
Worry-time	Worry or problem-oriented thoughts commonly arise when struggling for sleep Many people keep so busy throughout the day that worry or problem thoughts are insufficiently thought through Worry or problem thoughts evoke emotional reactions which then interfere with sleep	Schedule time to sort through worries or problems at least 3 h before bedtime Get all thoughts out of your head and onto paper to decrease the likelihood of such thoughts interfering with sleep After listing out possible worry or problem thoughts that might come up that night, list out 2–3 possible ways to solve or cope with each problem and then list out the most reasonable solution and how to execute that solution or plan
Cognitive restructuring	Aaron Beck explained that how we think effects how we feel and what we do; he called this the cognitive triad Irrational or illogical thoughts during the day evoke extensive or exacerbated emotional reactions Intense emotional states during the day can increase the likelihood of insomnia during the night	Learn to identify when you are experiencing a cognitive error Label the thought according to a list of common cognitive errors Identify the emotion and percent intensity of that emotion which is provoked by the cognitive error List facts that support the thought is true List facts that dispute the accuracy of that thought Identify a balanced replacement thought based on such facts Identify your emotional response and percent intensity of the emotional reaction to the replacement thought
Maintenance and relapse prevention	Patients with insomnia are often vulnerable to relapse of insomnia Relapse is often triggered by similar stressors and problems which initially precipitated insomnia	Identify possible triggers to relapse of insomnia Develop a plan for minimizing and addressing possible relapse

Table 2 Pediatric oriented modifications of CBT-I approaches

Pediatric modifications to CBT-I strategies
CBT-I Strategy	Pediatric Modification
Sleep restriction (see [Table 1])	Faded bedtime Instead of prescribing a time in bed coinciding with the total sleep time from the baseline week, the bedtime is simply pushed back later for children This approach often utilizes less restriction to the prescribed sleep window Each week, the bedtime is advanced with improved sleep efficiency
Stimulus control (see [Table 1])	Response cost Instead of having the child decide when to get out of bed and read, the parent is involved in the process The parent checks on the child after 15–20 min and if the child is awake they have the child get out of bed and read for 5–10 min
Relaxation strategies (see [Table 1])	Parents are involved by reading scripts and working with children to ensure effective use of strategies “Child-friendly” terminology is utilized in the script (e.g., instead of “tensing your hands and arms,” “imagine you are squeezing a lemon”)
Worry-time (see [Table 1])	Parents are involved by sitting down with children and asking the questions from the handout Sometimes children can draw their worries instead of writing them out
Cognitive restructuring (see [Table 1])	Parents are involved by working with children to identify thoughts and emotions “Child friendly” terminology is utilized for cognitive errors and chart columns Pictures and coloring sheets can be integrated (e.g., child colors in how much of the “emotional thermometer” they initially feel when the thought error is present and then color in a how much of the new “emotional thermometer” they feel following identification of a replacement thought)

A Committee focused on Practice Parameters from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reviewed 52 treatment studies pertaining to behavioral treatments of pediatric insomnia. They found that 94% of studies showed clinically significant improvements in the context of behavioral interventions. Improved symptoms were found in 82% of participants studied.[41] While behavioral treatment is evidence-based, use of medication is not yet approved for the treatment of insomnia in children. Stojanovski et al[58] found that 81% of pediatric psychiatry visits resulted in prescription of medication for pediatric sleep complaints. This is particularly an alarming given that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not yet approved any medication for treatment of insomnia in children, even if many drugs are currently prescribed off-label for insomnia in children.[59] [60] [61] While prescription medication has not been approved, evidence form published studies in the past 15 years supports the overall efficacy and tolerability of melatonin for insomnia in children.[62] [63] [64] [65] [66] Melatonin is considered particularly beneficial for insomnia in children with autism[67] [68] or special needs.[69] [70]

 

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Future Directions

Pediatric insomnia is a highly prevalent condition (25% of children struggle with sleep[7]). Children with sleep problems experience mood disturbances, academic challenges, and exhibit symptoms closely resembling ADHD, leading to high risk for misdiagnosis of ADHD with resultant prescription of stimulant medication which can ultimately pose increased risk for sleep disturbance. Parents of children with insomnia are often highly distressed and experience sleep loss creating a vicious cycle of stress and despair.

Parent stress can be a significant factor when working with children with insomnia.[29] As parents are also in the treatment room during the visit, such factors are extremely important when conceptualizing and treating children with insomnia. Parents bring their child for treatment (sometimes unwillingly or unknowingly). Given the high distress and sleep loss experienced by the parent, their emotional clarity is not always present and can obfuscate the decision process. They may not be willing to admit or accept their participation or contribution to the symptoms. Therefore, childhood insomnia can be challenging to treat because the child is not self-motivated and did not initiate treatment, and the distressed parent may not be willing to take ownership for their role and agree to make necessary changes in their routines and behaviors to treat the symptoms. Further research pertaining to strategies for addressing such barriers (e.g., motivational enhancement) is therefore warranted.

Assessment and treatment for pediatric insomnia is well-validated. We use clinical interview, sleep logs, screening tools and often actigraphy to assess pediatric insomnia. Prescription medication is not currently approved by the FDA for insomnia in children, yet medication is prescribed at alarmingly high rates with minimal if any critical evidence supporting efficacy and weighed risks versus benefits. However, behavioral treatment for pediatric insomnia is considered effective with no known risks or side effects.

Unfortunately, the number of experts trained in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric insomnia is vanishingly small around the world, with currently less than 20 child psychologists being formally trained and certified in behavioral sleep medicine. This is concerning, given the prevalence and impact of pediatric insomnia. Several training programs are now emerging and offering training to those interested in this career pathway which gives hope for the future of improved access to care. That said the immediate need is abundant. To circumvent the dire need for CBT-I delivery, several groups are investigating internet-based behavioral interventions which could certainly be a more immediate step toward increased access to care.[46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] Future endeavors geared toward increased access to care via technology and parent-friendly books are certainly warranted, as well as ongoing efforts to train professionals to effectively deliver behavioral treatment for pediatric insomnia, all of which should solidify improved access to care and provide respite to the insomniac child, his or her parents, and the primary care practitioners whose training and expertise is clearly exceeded by the demands of childhood insomnia.

 

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

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