Sleep and sleep disorders in children and adolescents.

Pediatric sleep disorders are common, affecting approximately 25% to 40% of children and adolescents. Although there are several different types of sleep disorders that affect youth, each disorder can have a significant impact on daytime functioning and development, including learning, growth, behavior, and emotion regulation. Researchers are only beginning to uncover the interaction between sleep and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, including depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. This article reviews normal sleep and sleep disorders in children and adolescents, the assessment of sleep in pediatric populations, common pediatric sleep disorders, and sleep in children who have common psychiatric disorders.