0931 SLEEP PROBLEMS IN PRESCHOOLERS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Abstract Introduction: Sleep disturbances among preschool-aged children are known to be highly prevalent, even in nonclinical populations. Given the impact of low sleep quality and short sleep duration on health, this question is even more relevant in vulnerable populations, but is less documented. This study aims to determine the prevalence of sleep difficulties in preschool-aged children who consulted in a child psychiatry clinic. Methods: Children aged between 1 and 6 years (n=276, 201 boys, 75 girls) were evaluated in an early childhood psychiatric clinic between July 2006 and September 2009. All participants were evaluated by a psychiatrist and diagnoses were established according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Diagnoses where then pooled into three categories: Behavioral Disorders, Relational Disorders and Communication Disorders. Sleep difficulties were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5–5 (CBCL/1.5–5) sleep problems subscale and were compared between children with or without each psychiatric nosology with independent t-tests. Results: Children with Behavioral Disorders had more sleep difficulties than children without this diagnosis (5.55 ± 3.47 vs 4.49 ± 3.6, p = 0.02). The same pattern was present for Relational Disorders (5.43 ± 3.7 vs 4.46 ± 3.45, p = 0.03), while no differences were observed for Communication Disorders (4.62 ± 3.5 vs 5.22 ± 3.7 p>0.05). Conclusion: Sleep is an important factor in child development. Results of the present study show that preschool-aged children with a psychiatric disorder are more likely to experience sleep difficulties, especially children with behavioral or relational disorders. Sleep difficulties may exacerbate clinical symptoms in this vulnerable population. The bidirectional link between psychopathology and sleep needs to be evaluated as soon as possible in development, in order to promote early identification and intervention related to these concomitant difficulties. Support (If Any):