A Brief Parent-based Sleep Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The University of Hong Kong75 enrolled

Overview

Sleep problems are very common in children with ASD, with a prevalence rate as high as 78%, and often pose significant challenges and stress to the families. Sleep problems in children with ASD are strongly associated with the exacerbation of daytime symptoms, and poor parental sleep quality and mental health. The present study is a randomised controlled trial to compare the effects of a parent-based sleep intervention for children with ASD (aged 3-6). Eligible participants will be randomised to either intervention (three consultation sessions and four follow-up phone calls) or waiting-list control condition. Assessments will be conducted at pre-treatment (baseline), and one-week after the intervention (post-treatment).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

ASD Insomnia

Interventions

The first session will involve the provision of sleep-related psycho-education (e.g. sleep hygiene practices) and specific strategies to tackle problematic sleep-related behaviours, as well as collaborative goal setting and development of management plan tailored to the child's sleep problem. The second and third session will involve a review of the sleep diary and a reinforcement of learned strategies, and focus on problem-solving to tackle any issues that have emerged from implementing the behavioural strategies at home. Follow-up phone calls provide parents with an opportunity to ask any further questions and to consolidate learned strategies and further troubleshoot.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 6 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Parents/caregivers (aged 21 or above) of preschool children (aged 3 to 6 years old) with a clinical diagnosis of ASD attending paediatric developmental clinic or clinical psychology service at the Duchess of Kent Child Assessment Centre (DKCAC) * Clinical diagnosis of ASD would be made by either a Pediatrician or a Clinical Psychologist, using at least one of the following diagnostic tools: Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and clinical interview based on diagnostic criteria of ASD depicted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Exclusion Criteria: \- Parent/caregiver of children with diagnosed co-morbid neurological, psychiatric or medical conditions which could have affected their sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea, epilepsy, childhood anxiety disorder

Locations (2)

Department of Clinical Psychology, The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay, HKWC, Hospital Authority

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Sleep Research Clinic & Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Child: Change of child's sleep

Change of the child's sleep measured by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). The total score of CSHQ ranges from 33 to 99. A higher score reflects more sleep disturbance.