Sleep - Special Interest Group

Sleep difficulties affect many children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and may have a negative impact both on their behaviour and their families. These sleep difficulties have many causes, including neurochemical, behavioral, and secondary to co-morbid medical (encompassing also neurological and psychiatric) disorders and their treatments. Improving sleep may benefit daytime functioning in these individuals. The presence and type of sleep difficulties may also serve as an important phenotype for characterization of autism subtypes.

This Special Interest Group will focus on the interface of sleep and autism. Our goals for this year are to begin a dialogue among researchers interested in this area and identify specific areas for study and future collaboration. After the organizers present a brief overview of the topic, participants will break into small focus teams for discussions on specific areas including the nature and causes of sleep difficulties in autism, genetics related to sleep, tools for measuring sleep difficulties, and behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Focus teams will then share their discussions with the larger group. Participants are encouraged to sign up for focus teams on the IMFAR website prior to the meeting.