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Migraine Headaches and Sleep Disturbances in Children
VA Miller, MA; TM Palermo, PhD; SW Powers, PhD, etal
Posted September 2003
Headache:2003; 43:362-368
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Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of
sleep disturbances in children with migraine headaches and to describe individual
differences in sleep behaviors based on headache features (e.g. frequency,
duration, intensity).
Background: A relationship between migraine headaches and sleep
disturbances has been suggested in both children and adults, but there is a lack
of research examining the relationship between specific headache features and the
range of sleep behaviors in children.
Methods: One hundred eighteen children, aged 2 to 12 years were evaluated
for headaches at two pediatric neurology departments. Parents completed the
Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire and a standardized questionnaire regarding
headache characteristics.
Results: Parents reported a high rate of sleep disturbances in children,
including sleeping too little (42%), bruxism (29%), child co-sleeping with parents
(25%), and snoring. Children with migraine headaches experienced more sleep
disturbances compared to published healthy control norms. After controlling for
child demographics, we found that the frequency and duration of migraine headaches
predicted specific sleep disturbances including sleep anxiety, parasomnias, and
bedtime resistance.
Conclusions: Children with migraine headaches have a high prevalence of
sleep disturbances. The direction of the relationship between headaches and sleep
is unknown. Regardless, interventions targeting sleep habits may improve headache
symptoms, and effective treatment of headaches in children may positively impact
sleep.
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