CHAPTER 9 - Insomnia in children: from infancy to school-age

Insomnia in developmental age differs considerably from that described in adults with regards to clinical presentation, subtypes, natural history, and treatment. In paediatric insomnia a complex combination of biological, circadian, neurodevelopmental, environmental, and behavioural variables is involved. Even more so in the developmental age, the identification of sleep disorders, especially insomnia, is extremely important, because they directly affect physiological, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Furthermore, there are different potential comorbidities that can mimic, contribute, or worsen symptoms of chronic insomnia in children. Future studies may be devoted to identifying specific insomnia phenotypes in infants and children to guide the clinician to the choice of the most appropriate treatment.