Relationship of sleep quality and health-related quality of life in adolescents according to self- and proxy ratings: a questionnaire survey

Roeser K, Eichholz R, Schwerdtle B, Schlarb A, Kübler A. Relationship of sleep quality and health-related quality of life in adolescents according to self- and proxy ratings: a questionnaire survey. Front Psychiatry. 2012;3:76:76.Introduction: Sleep disturbances are common in adolescents and adversely affect performance, social contact, and susceptibility to stress. We investigated the hypothesis of a relationship between sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and applied self- and proxy ratings. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 92 adolescents aged 11–17 years. All participants and their parents completed a HRQoL measure and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Children with SDSC T-scores above the normal range (above 60) were classified as poor sleepers. Results: According to self- and proxy ratings, good sleepers reported significantly higher HRQoL than poor sleepers. Sleep disturbances were significantly higher and HRQoL significantly lower in self- as compared to parental ratings. Parent-child agreement was higher for subscales measuring observable aspects. Girls experienced significantly stronger sleep disturbances and lower self-rated HRQoL than boys. Discussion: Our findings support the positive relationship of sleep and HRQoL. Furthermore, parents significantly underestimate sleep disturbances and overestimate HRQoL in their children

Recurrent abdominal pain in children and adolescents – a survey among paediatricians

Objective: Little is known about prevalence and usual treatment of childhood and adolescent recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in outpatient paediatricians’ practice. This study’s primary objective was to acquire insights into the usual paediatricians’ treatment and their estimation of prevalence, age and gender of RAP patients. Further objectives were to assess to which extent family members of patients report similar symptoms, how paediatricians rate the strain of parents of affected children and adolescents and how paediatricians estimate the demand for psychological support

Recurrent abdominal pain in children and adolescents – a survey among paediatricians

Objective: Little is known about prevalence and usual treatment of childhood and adolescent recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in outpatient paediatricians’ practice. This study’s primary objective was to acquire insights into the usual paediatricians’ treatment and their estimation of prevalence, age and gender of RAP patients. Further objectives were to assess to which extent family members of patients report similar symptoms, how paediatricians rate the strain of parents of affected children and adolescents and how paediatricians estimate the demand for psychological support

The European Academy for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia : An initiative of the European Insomnia Network to promote implementation and dissemination of treatment

Insomnia, the most prevalent sleep disorder worldwide, confers marked risks for both physical and mental health. Furthermore, insomnia is associated with considerable direct and indirect healthcare costs. Recent guidelines in the US and Europe unequivocally conclude that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I) should be the first‐line treatment for the disorder. Current treatment approaches are in stark contrast to these clear recommendations, not least across Europe, where, if any treatment at all is delivered, hypnotic medication still is the dominant therapeutic modality. To address this situation, a Task Force of the European Sleep Research Society and the European Insomnia Network met in May 2018. The Task Force proposed establishing a European CBT‐I Academy that would enable a Europe‐wide system of standardized CBT‐I training and training centre accreditation. This article summarizes the deliberations of the Task Force concerning definition and ingredients of CBT‐I, preconditions for health professionals to teach CBT‐I, the way in which CBT‐I should be taught, who should be taught CBT‐I and to whom CBT‐I should be administered. Furthermore, diverse aspects of CBT‐I care and delivery were discussed and incorporated into a stepped‐care model for insomnia.Peer reviewe

Behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy in the treatment of primary insomnia

Die vorliegende Studie vergleicht die Effektivität von einem verhaltenstherapeutischen Vorgehen als Einzel- und Gruppenbehandlung mit einem hypnotherapeutischen Vorgehen in Einzel- und Gruppensetting mit dem einer Warteliste bei primärer Insomnie. Untersucht wurden 111 Patienten. Die Personen wurden randomisiert einer von fünf Behandlungskategorien zugeordnet: Personen der Gruppe A erhielten Verhaltenstherapie als Einzelbehandlung, Gruppe B erhielt Verhaltenstherapie als Gruppensetting, Gruppe C erhielt Hypnotherapie als Einzelbehandlung und Gruppe D erhielt Gruppentherapie als Gruppensetting. Zusätzlich gab es noch die Wartelistenkontrollgruppe, der in dem entsprechenden Zeitraum keine Behandlung zuteil wurde. Das Behandlungsprogramm umfasste jeweils 6 Sitzungen. Für den Insomniepatienten mit chronischer Insomnie ist das Ziel die Hauptsymptome, die sich in der Einschlaflatenz, der nächtlichen Wachliegezeit und dem Früherwachen zeigen, zu reduzieren. Erhöht werden soll dagegen die Gesamtschlafzeit sowie die Qualität des Schlafes. Die Ergebnisse zeigen signifikante Verbesserungen auf diesen Parametern, die sich für die Dauer von 3 Monaten nach Behandlungsende nachweisen lassen. Somit ist ein hypnotherapeutisches strukturiertes Vorgehen als Alternativbehandlung zum verhaltenstherapeutischen Vorgehen zu sehen.This study compares the effectiveness of behaviour therapy as single setting and group setting with hypnotherapy as single and group setting. Further, these two therapies are compared with a waiting control group. The subjects (111 patients) were randomly assigned to the five groups. Subjects in group A received behaviour therapy in a single setting, subjects in group B received behaviour therapy in a group setting, subjects in group C received hypnotherapy in a single setting and subjects in group D received hypnotherapy in a group setting whereas subjects in group E received only waiting time. The treatment included 6 sessions. For the typical patient with persistent primary insomnia, treatment is likely to reduce the main target symptoms of sleep onset latency and/or time of wakefulness during night after sleep onset. Sleep duration is also increased and sleep quality and patient’s satisfaction with sleep patterns are significantly enhanced after the treatment. The interventions showed to be sustained for at least 3 months after treatment completion. These findings suggest that hypnotherapy is also as effective as behaviour therapy in the treatment of insomnia

Sleep as a moderator of the relationship between child maltreatment and romantic relationship patterns

Pfaff A, Schlarb A. Sleep as a moderator of the relationship between child maltreatment and romantic relationship patterns. In: JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH. Vol 27. Hoboken: Wiley; 2018