Correlations between sleep problems, core symptoms, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022339695). We systematically searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to April 27, 2022. Observational studies that reported correlations between measures of sleep problems, ASD core symptoms, or ASD behavioral problems were included, and participants aged 18  years or below were enrolled. The correlation coefficient (r) was assessed as the primary effect metric. Total 22 cross-sectional studies were included, which comprised 2655 participants (mean age  = 6.60 years old; mean percentage of boys = 80.64%). We found correlations between total sleep problems and total core symptoms (r 0.293 [95% confidence interval − 0.095 to 0.604]), total sleep problems and total behavioral problems (r 0.429 [0.299 –0.544]), and total core symptoms and total behavioral problems (r− 0.050 [− 0.177 to 0.079]) and identified statistically significant correlations between specific components of sleep problems, ASD core symptoms, and ASD behavioral problems. Each specific sleep problem showed a unique association with core symptoms and behavioral problems. Sleep problems in ASD should be explored in detail, and the closely linked core symptoms and behavioral problems should be common therapeutic targets.
Source: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research