Sleep Problems in Turkish Children with Conduct Disorder: A Single-centre, Cross-sectional, Case-control Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the sleep habits and sleep problems of patients with conduct disorder (CD) and to compare them with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 45 children diagnosed with CD and 50 healthy controls. Sleep was evaluated by children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ). Qualitative variables between groups were compared using chi-square test, whereas quantitative variables were compared using t-test. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships between the quantitative variables. Linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictors of severity of CD symptoms. P was set at 0.05. Results: The average ages of children in CD and control groups were 11.04 +/- 1.20 and 10.00 +/- 1.55 years, respectively. Moreover, 71.1% in the CD group were boys (vs. 78.0% in the control group). The groups were comparable in terms of socio-demographic features (all p>0.05). Scores of all CSHQ subscales were significantly elevated in the CD group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Clinically significant sleep problems were significantly elevated in the CD group (p<0.001). In the regression analysis, bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness emerged as significant predictors of the severity of CD. Conclusion: Sleep problems may be common among Turkish children with CD, and bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness may indicate severity of symptoms. Multimodal treatment for CD among children may address sleep problems.