Sleep disturbances and behavioural and emotional problems in preschool children with bilateral cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background

Sleep disturbances are likely to be associated with emotional and behavioural problems.

Objective

This study evaluated sleep disturbances in preschool children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and assessed their associations with behavioural and emotional problems.

Patients and methods

The study was performed in St. Petersburg in 2016, and comprised 20 children with diagnosed bilateral CP aged 5 years (10 boys, 10 girls) who attended a special educational centre. The control group was made up of 80 clinically healthy, typically developing children, who were matched as closely as possible to the cases in terms of age, gender and geographical distribution. Mothers were requested to fill in the Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) aimed at measuring certain sleep problems in children. Teachers were approached with the Achenbach Caregiver-Teacher Report Form for ages 1.5–5 years (C-TRF) aimed at finding major emotional and behavioural disturbances.

Results

Children with CP had significantly higher scores (more problems) on reported sleep onset delay, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness. They also scored higher on all Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-oriented behaviour problem scales. Both the diagnosis of CP and sleep disturbances were significant predictors of certain behavioural deviations, including anxiety, pervasive developmental and oppositional defiant problems. Based on the data mining procedure, an explanatory model that brought together the found associations was constructed.

Conclusion

Sleep disturbances in children with CP may be associated with behavioural problems.

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