Institute of Education, University College London.
Regent's University London Catherine Hill: University Hospital Southampton, University of Southampton.
Res Dev Disabil. 2020 Jun;101:103610. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103610. Epub 2020 Mar 27.
High levels of anxiety and sleep problems are common features of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The strong association between sleep and anxiety has been documented in typically developing (TD) populations and is thought to be bidirectional. The association between sleep and anxiety in children with FASD has not yet been examined.
Caregivers of children with FASD (n = 91) and TD children (n = 103) aged 6-16 completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and a background questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses, group comparisons and ANCOVA interaction models were used to test the associations between sleep and anxiety within and between the two groups.
Sleep disturbances and anxiety were at clinical levels for the majority of the FASD group, and significantly higher in the FASD group than the TD group. After controlling for age and sex, 27 % of the variance in anxiety scores in TD children was attributable to sleep problems, and 33 % in children with FASD.
This study highlights associations between parent-reported sleep and anxiety in FASD. Sleep disturbances were significant predictors of anxiety in both children with FASD and in TD children. Given the importance of sleep to healthy neurodevelopment, there is a pressing need for sleep intervention studies in children with FASD. Early identification and intervention for sleep problems in this condition should be a therapeutic priority.
胎儿酒精谱系障碍（FASD）患者常伴有焦虑和睡眠问题。在典型发育（TD）人群中，睡眠与焦虑之间的强关联已被记录在案，并且这种关联被认为是双向的。然而，FASD 患儿的睡眠与焦虑之间的关联尚未得到检验。
FASD 患儿（n = 91）和 TD 儿童（n = 103）的照顾者年龄在 6-16 岁之间，完成了儿童睡眠习惯问卷（CSHQ）、斯宾塞儿童焦虑量表（SCAS）和背景问卷。采用分层多元回归分析、组间比较和方差分析交互模型，检验两组内和两组间睡眠与焦虑之间的关系。
大多数 FASD 组的睡眠障碍和焦虑处于临床水平，且 FASD 组显著高于 TD 组。在控制年龄和性别后，TD 儿童焦虑评分的 27%可归因于睡眠问题，而 FASD 儿童则为 33%。
本研究强调了 FASD 中父母报告的睡眠与焦虑之间的关联。睡眠障碍是 TD 儿童和 FASD 儿童焦虑的重要预测因素。鉴于睡眠对健康神经发育的重要性，FASD 儿童的睡眠干预研究迫在眉睫。在这种情况下，早期识别和干预睡眠问题应成为治疗的重点。
