Otzim Spektrum Bozukluğu Tanısı Konulan Çocuklarda Uyku ve Beslenme Sorunları

Abstract

In this study autistic children’s sleep and nutrition problems and associated gastrointestinal system symptoms, autistic symptom severity, body mass index, mothers’ anxiety, depression levels and quality of life has been investigated. 54 children (6 female, 48 male) ages between 2-6 diagnosed with ASD in Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department were included in the study. Patients were assessed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel-V (DSM-V) in regard to ASD diagnostic validity. Symptom severity were determined with Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Patients’ sleep problems were assessed with Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), nutrition problems with Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI). Anxiety levels in mothers’ were assessed with Beck Anxiety Scale, depression level with Beck Depression Scale and life quality with Quality of Life in Autism Questionnaire- Parent Version. Statistical analyses which are conducted after these assesments revealed sleep problems in children have positive correlation with depressive symptom levels and negative correlation with quality of life in mothers, yet no correlation with gastrointestinal system symptoms. Nutrition problems are found to have positive correlation with autistic symptom severity and mothers’ depression levels. No correlation has found with body mass index. In conclusion, sleep and nutrition are essential needs for physical and mental development, and should be questioned by clinicians especially in autistic children who are at risk in these domains. Parents are lifelong caregivers for autistic children, therefore parents’ mental health and quality of life are important issues to help parents to give sufficient care and support for their autistic children. Further studies are needed for better understanding of the sleep and nutrition problems in ASD. Subsequent studies with larger sample sizes and further investigation about possible psychiatric and physical conditions accompanying sleep and nutrition problems are needed in this field.