THE TREATMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERS WITH MELATONIN

Fifteen children (most of whom were neurologically multiply disabled) with severe, chronic sleep disorders were treated with 2 to 10mg of or al meratonin, given at bedtime. Nine had fragmented sleep patterns, th ree had delayed sleep onset and three others had non-specific sleep di sturbance of unclear aetiology; all had failed to respond to conventio nal management. Nine patients had ocular or cortical visual impairment . The health, behavioural and social benefits of treatment were signif icant, and there were no adverse side-effects. While the response was not always complete, the study clearly showed that melatonin has an im portant role in the treatment of certain types of chronic sleep disord ers.