Evaluation of a Behavioral Treatment Package to Reduce Sleep Problems in Children with Angelman Syndrome

2013

Keith Allen
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402-559-5756

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral treatment package to reduce chronic sleep problems in children with Angelman Syndrome. Participants were five children, 2-11 years-of-age. Parents maintained sleep diaries to record sleep and disruptive nighttime behaviors. Actigraphy was added to provide independent evaluations of sleep-wake activity. The treatment package targeted the sleep environment, the sleep-wake schedule, and parent-child interactions during sleep times. Treatment was introduced sequentially, across families, and evaluated in an interrupted time series, multiple baseline design. Data show that prior to treatment, baseline rates of nighttime disruptive behavior were stable or increasing and none of the participants were falling to sleep independently. With the introduction of treatment, all participants quickly learned to initiate sleep independently.

Angelman Syndrome, Sleep problems, Bed-time problems, Behavioral tratment, Disruptive behavior

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals Published/In Press

Professionals, Students

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