Targeting Insomnia in School Aged Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Prior treatment

• 6\) psychotropic or other medications that alter sleep with the exceptions of stimulants, sleep medications, and/or melatonin as described in #7 (see Notes below for details)
• 7\) stimulants, sleep medications (prescribed or OTC), and/or melatonin within the last 1 month (unless stabilized on medication for 3+ months)

Other illness

• 4\) parent unable to complete forms or implement treatment procedures due to cognitive impairment
• 5\) untreated medical comorbidity, including other sleep disorders (e.g., apnea, epilepsy, psychotic disorders, suicidal ideation/intent, \[frequent\] parasomnias)
• 10\) other conditions adversely affecting trial participation

Other

• 1\) parent unable to provide informed consent or child unable to provide assent
• 2\) unwilling to accept random assignment
• 3\) participation in another randomized research project
• 8\) participation in non-pharmacological treatment (including CBT) for sleep outside current trial
• 9\) parent report of inability to undergo Holter Monitoring or actigraphy (e.g., extreme sensitivity, behavioral outbursts)

• 1\) 6-12a yrs
• 2\) Verbal IQ \>= 70
• 3\) participation of child's parent or legal guardian living in the same home
• 4\) parent/guardian ability to read and understand English at the 5th-grade level
• 5\) child diagnosed with ASD and insomnia
  • ASD:
• 1\) previous DSM diagnosis of ASD
• 2\) evaluation using gold-standard diagnostic tools (i.e., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and/or Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised \[ADI-R\])
  • Insomnia:
• 1\) complaints of difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or early morning awakening by child report or parent observation for 3+ mos
• 2\) daytime dysfunction (mood, cognitive, social, academic) due to insomnia
• 3\) baseline diaries and actigraphy indicate \>30 mins. of sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, or early morning awakening (time between last awakening and out of bed time) on 6+ nights