2: Psychiatry- Sleep Problems Flashcards
What happens normally if small children wake in the night
Usually if small children wake in the night they can settle themselves and fall back to sleep.
What are settling problems
Difficultly going to sleep
What are 5 causes of settling problems
- No routine bedtime - meaning do not feel tired
- Over-excited before bed
- Too much sleep in the morning and therefore not tired
- Fear of bedtime: due to nightmares or sexual absue
- Separation anxiety
What are two methods to treat settling disorders
Sleep hygiene
Self-soothing techniques
Explain self-soothing technique
Parent places child in bed and tells them to lie until they fall asleep. Parent returns in 5-minutes and reassures them. Return in 5-minutes after. Then gradually lengthen to 7-minutes.
What are waking problems
Problems settling after waking themselves in the night
What is common in waking problems
Settling problems
How are waking problems managed
Self-soothing
What age is peak incidence of nightmares
5-6 years
When are nightmares more common
During REM sleep
What are nightmares thought to be associated with
Anxiety
What are two parasomnias
Night terrors
Sleep walking
What are night terrors
- At the end of the first sleep cycle, there is a movement from stage 4 (Deep sleep) to stage 1 (Light sleep) - overshoot of this phase is thought to cause a hyperaroused state
- Where child may be confused, agitated and delirious
- After a few minutes child will fall asleep with. no recollection
How are night terrors managed
Self-resolving
When does incidence of sleep-walking peak
4-7 years
