Characterizing Key Correlates of Sleep Problems Across Rare Neurodevelopmental Genetic Disorders.
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PURPOSE: Sleep problems are common in neurodevelopmental genetic disorders (NGD), with impacts on daytime functioning amplified in these individuals. However, despite their prevalence and clinical impact, correlates of sleep difficulties in this group remain poorly characterized. This study used a large cohort of individuals with several rare NGDs to (i) characterize sleep phenotypes across disorders; and (ii) examine predictors of poor sleep. METHODS: Parents of 173 individuals with rare NGDs including PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, SYNGAP1, NFIX, a mixed group of other NGDs (Mean age = 14.16 years, SD = 10.45) and 123 parents of neurotypical children (Mean age = 12.28 years, SD = 7.93) completed the Neurobehavioral Evaluation Tool (NET). The NET assessed sleep problems, social communication impairments, restricted and repetitive behaviors, executive functioning, and mood and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Group comparisons revealed that the SYNGAP1 group experienced the most severe sleep problems. Hierarchical regression models showed that the independent statistically significant predictors for each sleep problem varied. Depressed affect and emotion regulation predicted sleep initiation and maintenance difficulties, insistence on sameness and separation anxiety predicted bedtime resistance, age and depressed affect predicted early morning somnolence, while sensory sensitivities and anxiety symptoms predicted decreased sleep length. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the elevated severity of sleep problems in NGDs. Correlates of specific sleep problems vary, providing further evidence to suggest that accurate assessment and diagnosis of sleep problems, and evaluation of correlates of sleep difficulties, is required in order to provide targeted interventions in rare NGDs.