Effect of long-term melatonin administration on school-phobic children andadolescents with sleep disturbances

Melatonin is effective in treating sleep disturbances, which are closely re lated to school phobia. However, side effects of melatonin in long-term adm inistration have not been examined fully. In the present study melatonin wa s administered to 30 patients with school phobia (18 females, 12 males; mea n age, 14.8 years) who had no physical, psychiatric, or social problems, bu t had sleep disturbances. Patients were compared with 27 healthy, age-match ed controls. No changes in serum 5-S-cysteinyldopa levels, human skin pigme ntation, or the state of puberty mere observed in either group. Melatonin a ppeared to lead to improvements in sleep disturbances.