[Pharmacologic treatment of insomnia in children and adolescent psychiatric patients].

Sleep disturbances are frequent in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders nevertheless there are few drugs available to treat them. Only certain antihistaminic H1 have the marketing authorization for treatment of childhood insomnia. Very few studies have been made in children about the hypnotics that are most widely used in adult patients: zopiclone, zolpidem and the hypnotic benzodiazepines. However, melatonin has recently become the most studied hypnotic drug in children since the marketing of a sustained-released form gave it the status of a drug and improved its pharmacokinetic properties. In child psychiatry, pharmacological treatment of insomnia should be considered in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in which sleep disturbances can be aggravated by psycho stimulant treatment, in autism spectrum disorders, and in the anxiety/depression.