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Sleep problems in adolescence have been identified as an international public health issue. Over the past few decades, notable advances have been made in our understanding of the patterns and consequences of sleep in adolescence. Despite these important gains, there is much about the role of sleep in adolescence that remains to be understood. This Special Issue brings together studies that examine sleep as it specifically pertains to adolescent development and adjustment. In this introductory article, we argue for the importance of grounding the study of sleep and adolescence in developmental science and a developmental psychopathology framework. First, a review of the literature is used to outline a biopsychosocial and contextual model of sleep in adolescence. Second, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is used as an exemplar of the proposed model given the pervasiveness of sleep problems among youth with ADHD and the likelihood that sleep problems and ADHD symptoms are interconnected in complex ways. Finally, a brief introduction to the empirical articles included in the Special Issue is provided, with particular attention given to how these articles fit within the proposed biopsychosocial and contextual model. Along with the framework proposed in this article, the studies included in this Special Issue advance the current literature and point to critical directions for future research.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with medical and neurobehavioral morbidity across the lifespan. Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment has demonstrated efficacy in treating OSA and has been shown to improve daytime functioning in adults, but treatment adherence can be problematic. There are nearly no published studies examining functional outcomes such as academic functioning in adolescents treated with PAP. This study was conducted as an initial step towards determining whether PAP treatment improves daytime functioning among adolescents with OSA. Self-reported academic grades, self- and parent-reported academic quality of life, and objectively-measured attention were assessed before and after PAP was clinically initiated in a sample of 13 obese adolescents with OSA, as well as 15 untreated obese Controls without OSA. Based on adherence data, the treated group was divided into PAP Users (n = 6) and Non-Adherent participants (n = 7). Though demographically similar, the three groups significantly differed in how their academic performance and attention scores changed from baseline to follow-up. Non-Adherent participants showed worsening functioning over time, while PAP Users showed stable or improved functioning, similar to controls. Although many adolescents prescribed PAP for OSA are non-adherent to the treatment, those who adhere to treatment can display improved attention and academic functioning.

Study Objectives: Despite high prevalence rates of both psychopathology and sleep problems during adolescence, as well as frequent co-occurrence, little is known about the mental health of adolescents presenting for insomnia evaluation and treatment. This study describes (1) rates of mental health symptoms and (2) associations of mental health symptoms with sleep behaviors and schedules in adolescents presenting to a behavioral sleep medicine clinic within an accredited sleep disorders center. Methods: As a part of routine clinical care, 376 adolescents (ages 11 to 18 years) presenting for insomnia evaluation completed measures of insomnia and sleep behavior. Their caregiver reported on mental health diagnoses and symptoms. Results: Adolescents had high rates of mental health diagnoses (75%) and clinically elevated symptoms (64%). Affective, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were most commonly reported. Mental health symptoms were related to sleep behaviors and insomnia severity, with ADHD symptoms and affective problems most consistently associated with disrupted sleep. Conclusions: Health providers should assess for mental health problems in youth presenting with sleep-related concerns. Intervening with both sleep and mental health problems should be considered to most effectively improve functioning. Citation: Van Dyk TR, Becker SP, Byars KC. Rates of mental health symptoms and associations with self-reported sleep quality and sleep hygiene in adolescents presenting for insomnia treatment. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(10):1433–1442.

Despite high prevalence rates of both psychopathology and sleep problems during adolescence, as well as frequent co-occurrence, little is known about the mental health of adolescents presenting for insomnia evaluation and treatment. This study describes (1) rates of mental health symptoms and (2) associations of mental health symptoms with sleep behaviors and schedules in adolescents presenting to a behavioral sleep medicine clinic within an accredited sleep disorders center. As a part of routine clinical care, 376 adolescents (ages 11 to 18 years) presenting for insomnia evaluation completed measures of insomnia and sleep behavior. Their caregiver reported on mental health diagnoses and symptoms. Adolescents had high rates of mental health diagnoses (75%) and clinically elevated symptoms (64%). Affective, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were most commonly reported. Mental health symptoms were related to sleep behaviors and insomnia severity, with ADHD symptoms and affective problems most consistently associated with disrupted sleep. Health providers should assess for mental health problems in youth presenting with sleep-related concerns. Intervening with both sleep and mental health problems should be considered to most effectively improve functioning.

Study Objectives: The current study aimed to examine clinically relevant psychiatric and sociodemographic predictors of insomnia treatment outcomes in pediatric patients clinically referred for insomnia. Methods: Pediatric patients (n = 1,428; ages 1.5–18 years) presenting for insomnia evaluation in a medical/sleep center–based behavioral sleep clinic were followed for treatment as clinically indicated. According to patient age, parents/patients completed validated measures of insomnia severity, psychiatric symptoms, and sociodemographic measures. Patients were also categorized by treatment outcome status (ie, not recommended to follow-up after initial evaluation and treatment session, successful treatment completion, lost to follow-up after initial evaluation and treatment session, and early termination) according to the clinically indicated treatment recommended and dose of treatment received. Results: Youth had elevated scores on psychiatric screening indexes and affective problems were highest for all age groups. Other comorbid sleep disorders were present in nearly 25% of patients with insomnia and use of sleep aids (melatonin or hypnotics) was commonplace. Baseline insomnia severity significantly predicted sleep treatment trajectories and posttreatment insomnia severity with large effects for all age groups. Other clinically relevant predictors of insomnia treatment outcomes included medication use and externalizing mental health concerns in younger patients and internalizing mental health concerns and chronological age in older patients. Lack of treatment follow-up and premature treatment termination was observed for patients with the worst insomnia symptoms at time of initial evaluation. Conclusions: Pediatric health providers delivering insomnia treatment should take a developmentally sensitive approach that is proactive with regards to managing treatment barriers that are likely influenced by severity of insomnia and comorbid mental health concerns. Citation: Van Dyk TR, Simmons DM, Durracio K, Becker SP, Byars KC. The role of psychiatric symptoms, sociodemographic factors, and baseline sleep variables on pediatric insomnia treatment outcomes in a clinically referred population. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(11):1727–1738.

Study Objectives: Children with overweight or obesity are more likely to experience sleep disorders, although the role of weight in pediatric insomnia treatment has not been examined. The current study examined the relationships of high body mass with pretreatment insomnia severity and global sleep problems and the potential moderating impact of weight on changes in insomnia severity following insomnia treatment. Methods: Participants included 1,133 youth ages 2–18 years clinically referred for insomnia treatment. The Pediatric Insomnia Severity Index was collected at the initial assessment and throughout treatment as part of routine clinical care. Treatment status was coded as no treatment, early termination, and completed treatment. Secondary measures of global sleep problems at the initial assessment included the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale, Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale, and Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Medical chart review of visits within ± 3 months of baseline was used to obtain age-adjusted and sex-adjusted body mass index Z-score. Results: Among adolescents, regression analyses found that higher body mass index Z-score modestly predicted baseline insomnia severity ( P = .021) and worse sleep hygiene ( P < .001). For children, higher body mass index Z-score was modestly associated with baseline total sleep problems ( P = .006) but not insomnia severity ( P = .792). Across ages, body mass index Z-score predicted neither treatment status nor insomnia improvement ( P > .05). Findings were similar in categorical analyses comparing patients with overweight/obesity to healthy weight. Conclusions: Although there is evidence that children of higher body mass present for insomnia treatment with greater sleep concerns, body mass does not predict treatment completion or insomnia improvement. Data suggest insomnia treatment is effective irrespective of weight status. Citation: Duraccio KM, Simmons DM, Beebe DW, Byars KC. Relationship of overweight and obesity to insomnia severity, sleep quality, and insomnia improvement in a clinically referred pediatric sample. J Clin Sleep Med . 2022;18(4):1083–1091.

Study Objectives: Sleep problems are highly comorbid with pediatric pain, yet there is a dearth of research on how pain and somatic complaints impact adolescent insomnia presentation and response to cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This study aims to (1) determine the prevalence of parent-reported somatic/pain complaints in adolescents with insomnia presenting to a behavioral sleep clinic, (2) assess the impact of somatic/pain complaints on initial sleep presentation, and (3) assess the impact of baseline somatic/pain complaints on response to CBT-I. Methods: Participants included adolescents (n = 375) presenting to a behavioral sleep medicine center with a primary diagnosis of insomnia. As a part of clinical care, pre-evaluation measures were completed including the Pediatric Insomnia Severity Index, Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale, Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale, and Child Behavior Checklist. The Somatic Syndrome Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist measured somatic complaints and teens were categorized as endorsing pain if reported to experience aches/pains, headaches, or stomachaches. Adolescents completed the Pediatric Insomnia Severity Index at end of treatment. Results: Most adolescents had parent-reported somatic (61.1%) and/or pain complaints: headaches (66.6%), stomachaches (48.5%), and aches/pains (45.1%). Greater somatic and pain complaints predicted a worse sleep presentation at intake (all P < .05). After controlling for insomnia severity at intake, neither end-of-treatment insomnia severity nor treatment status were predicted by somatic and pain complaints at intake. Conclusions: Results suggest that parent-reported somatic/pain complaints are prevalent in > 50% of adolescents seeking behavioral insomnia treatment. Although complaints are associated with more severe insomnia at intake, they do not appear to interfere with treatment response. Citation: Van Dyk TR, Krietsch KN, King CD, Byars KC. Prevalence of somatic and pain complaints and associations with sleep disturbance in adolescents with insomnia presenting to a behavioral sleep medicine clinic. J Clin Sleep Med . 2022;18(1):151–160.

IntroductionIndividuals with Down syndrome (DS) are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) due to craniofacial features (eg, midface hypoplasia, glossoptosis) and studies have shown that the prevalence of OSA in this population is markedly increased compared with that of typically developing children. Adenotonsillectomy is considered the first-line treatment for childhood OSA. However, persistent OSA is common, thus many children with DS are referred for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy initiation; PAP appears to be an important aspect of living with DS. PAP has been shown to be highly effective in the general population for treating OSA and improving OSA-associated neurobehavioural symptoms, such as quality of life, behaviour, mood, daytime sleepiness and school performance. However, PAP as a treatment for OSA has not been well-studied in children with DS. Therefore, we designed a multicentre randomised controlled trial recruiting children with DS and OSA at three academic institutions, aged 6–18 years, referred for PAP initiation to treat OSA.Methods and analysis86 participants will be randomised to a 6-month intensive behavioural intervention (INT) to improve PAP adherence versus standard clinical care and underwent standardised evaluations of quality of life, behaviour, attention, PAP adherence and healthcare utilisation at baseline, 6 months and 12 months.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the institutional review board at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (IRB of record, IRB # 20–0 17 512). Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center and University of Miami delegated IRB review and approval responsibility to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia through reliance agreements as mandated by National Institutes of Health (NIH). All participants will be minors; consent will be obtained from parents and assent from participants will be obtained when possible. The intervention tested in this trial is considered not greater than minimal risk, and no identifiable data will be reported. As required by the NIH, a data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has been formed, who will review and approve the protocol and any protocol changes prior to implementation. The study team will send biannual reports and hold a biannual meeting with the DSMB to review any safety and protocol concerns. Findings will be presented at national conferences pertinent to this topic and published in peer-reviewed medical journals. In addition, findings will be shared in the lay format with DS associations around the world and used for training of healthcare providers and trainees (R25HD118212). Further, data collected will be deposited in a repository (National Sleep Research Resource; sleepdata.org) after completion of the study to maximise use by scientific community.Trial registration numberNCT04132999.

  Purpose of Review Use of exogenous melatonin as a sleep aid is steadily increasing among youth. Despite limited understanding regarding the acute and long-term effects on circadian timing, sleep, and daytime functioning, melatonin is recommended to adolescents for sleep difficulties more than any other age group. This review summarizes and synthesizes the most recent research examining the efficacy of melatonin treatment on sleep difficulties in healthy, typically developing adolescents. Recent Findings Research allowing for cause-effect inferences on the effects of melatonin treatment in typically developing adolescents is quite limited. However, the literature that exists suggests that melatonin administration through adolescence appears effective and without observed untoward effects. Summary Clinical use of melatonin should be well considered and aligned appropriately with diagnoses. There is a critical need for longitudinal and experimental research aimed at better understanding the effects of melatonin on objective and subjective sleep, daytime functioning, and adverse effects in adolescents.

Parent Report of Mealtime Behavior and Parenting Stress in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes and in Healthy Control Subjects Scott W. Powers , PHD 1 2 3 , Kelly C. Byars , PSY.D 1 2 3 , Monica J. Mitchell , PHD 1 2 3 , Susana R. Patton , PHD 1 2 , Debbie A. Standiford , RN 1 4 and Lawrence M. Dolan , MD 1 3 4 1 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 2 Division of Psychology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 3 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 4 Division of Endocrinology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio Abstract OBJECTIVE —This study assessed parent report of mealtime behavior and parenting stress in preschoolers with type 1 diabetes. It was hypothesized that children with type 1 diabetes would be seen as exhibiting more mealtime behavior problems and that their parents would evidence greater parenting stress when compared with healthy subjects. It was also hypothesized that report of mealtime behavior problems would be positively correlated with parenting stress. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —A total of 40 children (aged 1–6 years) with type 1 diabetes were recruited from a pediatric hospital. Another 40 children matched for age, sex, marital status, and socioeconomic status were used as control subjects. Reliable and valid parent report measures, such as the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale and the Parenting Stress Index, were used for data collection. RESULTS —Parents of children with type 1 diabetes reported more behavioral feeding problems than parents of healthy control subjects. Additionally, parents of children with type 1 diabetes reported higher frequencies of parenting behaviors associated with poor nutritional intake and a greater number of parenting problems concerning mealtimes when compared with parents of healthy control subjects. Parents of children with type 1 diabetes also reported higher stress levels than parents of control subjects. A moderate relationship between mealtime behavior problems and general parenting stress was observed for families coping with type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS —Mealtime problems reported in preschool children with type 1 diabetes are appropriate targets for behavioral intervention. Behavioral observation techniques and training in child behavior management skills should be used in future research aimed at assessing and treating barriers to effective nutrition management in young children with type 1 diabetes. BPFAS, Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale CCHMC, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center MANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance PDC, Pediatric Diabetes Center PSI, Parenting Stress Index SES, socioeconomic strata Footnotes Address correspondence and reprint requests to Scott W. Powers, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Psychology, Sabin Education Center 4th Floor, ML:D-3015, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039. E-mail: scottpowers{at}chmcc.org . Received for publication 29 June 2001 and accepted in revised form 6 November 2001. A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.