A Study On Association Among Sleep Pattern, Sleep Disturbance And Problem Behavior In Persons With Developmental Disabilities In India R

Background: Sleep patterns of persons with developmental disabilities are different from those of age matched peers. Persons with developmental disabilities are taking more time to fall asleep as compared with other persons without disabilities (Piazza, Fisher, & Kahng, (1996). Sleep disturbances seem to decrease one's ability to regulate, control, or inhibit emotion and behavior (Dahl, 1996, Wolfson and Carskadon, 1998). Brylewski and Wiggs (1999) found that persons with developmental disabilities with sleep disorders have more daytime problem behaviors like Irritability, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity, self-injury, aggression and screaming. Methods: The present study assessed the sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior in a randomized sample of persons (η=70) with developmental disabilities on whom EEG recording was done. Persons with developmental disabilities who are living in community with parents were taken for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect research data from informants on Demographic Data Sheet, Showkat's Screening Scale for Sleep Pattern of Children (SSSSPC), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) and Behavioral Assessment scale for Indian Children with Mental Retardation Part–B. The relationships were explored among sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior with respect to EEG record, medication and comorbid conditions in persons with developmental disabilities. Results: Pearson's correlation co-efficient (r) was calculated and it was found that sleep pattern is significantly associated with sleep disturbance (r =0.534, p<0.01)) and problem behavior (r =0.521, p<0.01) of persons with developmental disabilities. The results showed that sleep pattern is significant with problem behaviors like temper tantrums & misbehavior with others. Furthermore, persons with developmental disabilities having severe problems in sleep pattern also showed severe problem behaviors, such as self injurious behavior, repetitive behavior, odd behavior, hyperactivity & rebellious behavior. The significant difference (p<0.05) was found in sleep pattern of persons with developmental disabilities between the groups having normal EEG record and abnormal EEG record. Similar findings were also observed with respect to problem behavior. Results of this study are discussed pertaining to the assessment of sleep pattern; sleep disturbance and problem behavior of persons with developmental disabilities. Conclusions: Present research study concluded that there is an association among sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior in persons with developmental disabilities. In present study it was observed that there is a significant difference in sleep pattern of persons with developmental disabilities between the groups having normal EEG record and abnormal EEG record. Similar findings were also observed with respect to problem behavior