Sleeping Beauties: Pediatric Sleep Disturbances and Their Management-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The presentation by Jess Jatkin focused on pediatric sleep disturbances and their management, offering a breadth of information geared towards recognizing and managing sleep issues in children. Jatkin started by discussing common pediatric sleep concerns, such as insomnia, parasomnias, snoring, and bedwetting, and their prevalence, correlating them with psychiatric conditions like ADHD and autism. He underlined the importance of taking a comprehensive sleep history that includes 24-hour sleep cycles, psychosocial factors, and family history.<br /><br />He introduced the sleep cycle, explaining the stages of sleep, and emphasized that waking up during the night is normal. The physiological processes of sleep, like the circadian rhythm, were highlighted, as well as the role of brain chemistries, which make staying awake easier than falling asleep. Jatkin outlined behavioral interventions for insomnia, stressing sleep training methods like graduated extinction, positive bedtime routines, and sometimes scheduled awakenings. <br /><br />The presentation delved into CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) as a preferred treatment over medications, recommending medicinal aid only when necessary, with melatonin as a primary option due to its relatively effective results, especially in children with developmental disorders. <br /><br />He further spoke of the lack of FDA-approved insomnia treatments for children while acknowledging the prevalent off-label use of medications by child psychiatrists. Lastly, he briefly addressed the impacts of marijuana on sleep, noting its short-term and long-term effects on sleep patterns. The presentation aimed to empower practitioners with practical tools, behavioral strategies, and clinical insights into pediatric sleep management.

Keywords

pediatric sleep disturbances

sleep management

insomnia

parasomnias

ADHD

autism

circadian rhythm

CBT-I

melatonin

behavioral interventions