SLEEP PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN OF AFFECTIVELY ILL MOTHERS

The objective of the study was to determine whether the frequency and severity of sleep problems were greater in children of affectively ill mothers than in children of control mothers. Sleep problems were stud ied in children of mothers with a diagnosis of unipolar (N = 38) and b ipolar (N = 23) affective illness and children of mothers with no curr ent or past psychiatric diagnosis (N = 24). Mothers' reports on the Ch ild Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were obtained three times, 4 years apart , on sibling pairs (ages 1.5-3.5 and 5-8 years, respectively, at first assessment). In addition, on the third assessment, the Diagnostic Int erview for Children and Adolescents was filled out by mothers and chil dren. In both siblings, sleep problems, as assessed through the CBCL, were more frequent and severe in children of affectively ill mothers. In younger siblings, the persistence of sleep problems was more freque nt in children of affectively ill mothers. Co-occurrence of sleep prob lems among siblings was more frequent in children of affectively ill m others than in those of control mothers.