Treatment with melatonin is often initiated on an insufficient basis as it has not been established prior to starting the treatment whether or not the child had delayed release of endogenous melatonin. At the clinic, it has furthermore been observed that the length of time a child experiences an effect of melatonin treatment varies substantially. In a clinical context, treatment with melatonin is used increasingly (www.Medstat.dk). However, there is no tradition in Denmark for measuring the endogenous melatonin level before initiating such treatment. Hence there is no way of knowing to what extent the sleep problems were indeed caused by delayed melatonin release. There seem to be no studies on the difference in the effect of melatonin treatment of children and adolescents depending on whether or not they have delayed DLMO. Likewise, there are no studies including adolescents. As can be seen, it is important to gain more knowledge about the normal release of melatonin, and the release of melatonin in a group of children and adolescents with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. It is also essential to investigate whether there are any differences in the release of melatonin in children and adolescents with chronic sleep onset problem and children and adolescents who do not have sleep problems.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
Melatonin 3 mg is given ones a day - at bedtimes for 6 month
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric department
Esbjerg, Denmark
RECRUITINGSleep onset Latency (SOL)
How long time does the child use falling asleep after lights out
Time frame: 6 month
Sleep onset
Time where child falls asleep
Time frame: 6 month
Total Sleep time
Time frame: 6 month
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Scale Score (ADHD-RS)
A Scale Score measuring ADHD symptoms on a 4 point Likert Scale (0-3) . 18 Question with a Total max score of 54, Total minimum Score is 0 . Higher score is more symptoms.
Time frame: 6 month
Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS)
Evaluation on different Quality of Life (QoL) scores. 50 Question Measuring QoL in School, Family setting and Social activities on a 4 Point Likert Scale (0-3) with af total max score om 150 (minimum 0) - A higher score is more difficulties and lower Quality of Life
Time frame: 6 month
Dundee Difficult Times of the Day Scale (D-DTODS)
On a 4 point Likert scale (1-4) the instrument asses the impact on Child and Family Self-Esteem and Quality of Life . Total max is 40 points and indicates low QoL and Minimum score is 10 and indicate Normal functioning and High QoL
Time frame: 6 month
Side effect Rating Scale
Registration of 17 known possible Side Effekts on a Likert Scale 0-9 point each, With a total score of 153 points which indicate many and serious Side effect and a minimum of 0 , which indicate Zero side effects
Time frame: 6 month
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