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. 1998 Jul;79(1):63–64. doi: 10.1136/adc.79.1.63

Melatonin treatment in an institutionalised child with psychomotor retardation and an irregular sleep-wake pattern

G Pillar 1, A Etzioni 1, E Shahar 1, P Lavie 1
PMCID: PMC1717628  PMID: 9771256

Abstract

An institutionalised 13 year old girl with psychomotor retardation suffered from an irregular sleep-wake pattern. Multiple measurements of urinary sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6) concentrations were abnormally low, without any significant day-night differences. Administration of exogenous melatonin (3 mg) at 18:00 resulted in increased nocturnal urinary aMT6 concentrations and improvements in her sleep-wake pattern. Melatonin may help disabled children suffering from sleep disorders.



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Selected References

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