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The impact of general medical condition on sleep in children with mental retardation

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare sleep problem categories of children with mental retardation without general medical condition (MR-GMC), children with MR co-occurring with GMC (MR+GMC), siblings of the MR children, and the general population.

Method

This is the first study which separates MR children with GMC and those without GMC. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was completed by their parents to assess their children's sleep practices and behaviors such as the child's sleeping habits, sleeping arrangements, sleep anxiety, night wakening, parasomnias, and daytime sleepiness.

Results

The clusters of bedtime resistance and sleep duration, wake up, parasomnia, sleep anxiety, and other problem categories were not different between MR children without GMC and the other two control groups of general population and siblings group. Parasomnia and other problem categories were more impaired in MR+GMC group than the three groups of MR-GMC, general population, and siblings.

Conclusions

The lack of difference between the MR+GMC group and those in the control groups may suggest that medical predisposing factors may contribute to an increased rate of sleep problems in MR children, rather than their MR as a cause of sleep problems. Probably, management of the accompanying medical conditions of the MR children would improve their sleep; in other words, the sleep difficulties of the children with MR are more related to their general medical problems rather than their MR.

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Acknowledgements

This study was Dr. Maryam Faghih’s undergraduate thesis under supervision of associate Professor Ahmad Ghanizadeh. This study was supported by a grant from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences to Dr. Ghanizadeh. We pray for Maryam Faghih’s departed soul to rest in peace.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

    Ahmad Ghanizadeh

  2. Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

    Maryam Faghih

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

    Ahmad Ghanizadeh

Authors
  1. Ahmad Ghanizadeh
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  2. Maryam Faghih
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmad Ghanizadeh.

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Ghanizadeh, A., Faghih, M. The impact of general medical condition on sleep in children with mental retardation. Sleep Breath 15, 57–62 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-009-0312-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-009-0312-0

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