An Open-Label Study of Controlled-Release Melatonin in Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children with Autism

Abstract

Long-term effectiveness of controlled-release melatonin in 25 children, aged 2.6-9.6 years with autism without other coexistent pathologies was evaluated openly. Sleep patterns were studied using Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and sleep diaries at baseline, after 1-3-6 months melatonin treatment and 1 month after discontinuation. Sleep diary and CSHQ showed a more problematic sleep in autistic children compared with controls. During treatment sleep patterns of all children improved. After discontinuation 16 children returned to pre-treatment score, readministration of melatonin was again effective. Treatment gains were maintained at 12 and 24-month follow-ups. No adverse side effects were reported. In conclusion, controlled-release melatonin may provide an effective and well-tolerated treatment for autistic children with chronic sleep disorders.

Abnormal melatonin synthesis in autism spectrum disorders

“…[41][42][43][44] Taken together, these findings indicate that a subgroup of individuals with ASD and low melatonin levels could benefit from the use of melatonin as a therapeutic compound. Melatonin treatment seems to help patients with ASD to fall asleep and to sleep through the night, 37,[45][46][47][48] but it remains unknown if melatonin could have a more beneficial effect if given before 3 years of age. Further studies are required to determine the role of the melatonin deficit in the affected individuals, and more generally of circadian and seasonal rhythms, in the susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders.…”

The Possible Interplay of Synaptic and Clock Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Only two small-scale studies have tested the efficacy of melatonin in ASD (Garstang and Wallis 2006;Giannotti et al 2006). The first study evaluated openly the longterm effectiveness of controlled-release melatonin in 25 children, aged 2.6 to 9.6 years with ASD without other coexistent pathologies (Giannotti et al 2006).…”

“…The first study evaluated openly the longterm effectiveness of controlled-release melatonin in 25 children, aged 2.6 to 9.6 years with ASD without other coexistent pathologies (Giannotti et al 2006). During treatment, sleep patterns of all children improved.…”

Theoretical aspects of autism: biomarkers—a review

“…In addition, an abnormal melatonin rhythm correlated with sleep studies in children with autism has been documented over the past four decades (Ornitz et al, 1965;Ornitz, 1973;DeMyer et al, 1981;Hoshino et al, 1982;Volkmar et al, 2004;Malow et al, 2006;Glickman, 2010). Melatonin has been used successfully in treatment of chronic sleep disorders in individuals with autism (Giannotti et al, 2006;Galli-Carminati et al, 2009;Wirojanan et al, 2009). …”