Abstract
Supplemental melatonin has shown promise in treating sleep onset insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Twenty-four children, free of psychotropic medications, completed an open-label dose-escalation study to assess dose–response,
tolerability, safety, feasibility of collecting actigraphy data, and ability of outcome measures to detect change during a
14-week intervention. Supplemental melatonin improved sleep latency, as measured by actigraphy, in most children at 1 or 3 mg
dosages. It was effective in week 1 of treatment, maintained effects over several months, was well tolerated and safe, and
showed improvement in sleep, behavior, and parenting stress. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on supplemental
melatonin for insomnia in ASD and inform planning for a large randomized trial in this population.
Twenty-four children, free of psychotropic medications, completed an open-label dose-escalation study to assess dose–response,
tolerability, safety, feasibility of collecting actigraphy data, and ability of outcome measures to detect change during a
14-week intervention. Supplemental melatonin improved sleep latency, as measured by actigraphy, in most children at 1 or 3 mg
dosages. It was effective in week 1 of treatment, maintained effects over several months, was well tolerated and safe, and
showed improvement in sleep, behavior, and parenting stress. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on supplemental
melatonin for insomnia in ASD and inform planning for a large randomized trial in this population.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1418-3
- Authors
- Beth Malow, Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology and Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Room Room A-0116, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Karen W. Adkins, Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Susan G. McGrew, Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Lily Wang, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Suzanne E. Goldman, Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology and Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Room Room A-0116, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Diane Fawkes, Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology and Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Room Room A-0116, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Courtney Burnette, Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257
