Sleep Disruption in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Conceptual Framework and Opportunities for Clinical Assessment and Behavioral Treatment

Overview

Journal Am J Lifestyle Med

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2020 Feb 18

PMID 32063816

Citations 8

Authors

Erin L Merz

Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sleep disruption is a commonly reported consequence of cancer and its treatment in pediatric patients and survivors. This review summarizes common sleep concerns in this population and introduces a multidimensional framework of risk factors specific to childhood cancer that may interact to develop and maintain disrupted sleep. Based on the extant literature, parameters of the cancer and its treatment, physical and social environmental conditions both during and after treatment, changes to family behavior and norms, psychological factors and traumatic stress, and reduced physical activity are hypothesized to be the most pertinent risk factors for disrupted sleep in this population. Potential clinical assessment strategies and behavioral interventions relevant to these considerations are discussed, with reference to the behavioral model of insomnia. The review concludes by offering directions for research and clinical practice, including developing and testing comprehensive assessment tools, intervention effectiveness studies in both oncology and primary care clinics, and efforts to increase patient-provider communication about sleep in pediatric oncology.

Citing Articles

Sleep quality and physical fitness as modifiable contributors of fatigue in childhood cancer survivors.

Vanrusselt D, Sleurs C, Van Ermengem N, Torrekens A, Lemiere J, Verschueren S J Cancer Surviv. 2025; .

PMID: 39825172 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01741-w.

An exploratory study of sleep habits in school-aged survivors of retinoblastoma.

Chahin S, Morse M, Qaddoumi I, Phipps S, Crabtree V, Brennan R Sleep Med. 2023; 103:123-130.

PMID: 36780752 PMC: 10006349. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.01.026.

Actigraphy-Based Characteristics of Sleep in Paediatric Cancer Patients in Remission and a Comparison with Their Healthy Peers in the Recovery Stay.

Vyhlidal T, Dygryn J, Chmelik F Nat Sci Sleep. 2022; 14:1449-1456.

PMID: 36045915 PMC: 9423104. DOI: 10.2147/NSS.S374234.

Sleep Disturbance and Its Association With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Attention in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors.

Olsthoorn I, Holland A, Hawkins 2nd R, Cornelius A, Baig M, Yang G Front Neurosci. 2022; 16:918800.

PMID: 35812214 PMC: 9259867. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.918800.

Systematic Review: Sleep Disorders Based on Objective Data in Children and Adolescents Treated for a Brain Tumor.

Helligsoe A, Weile K, Kenborg L, Henriksen L, Lassen-Ramshad Y, Amidi A Front Neurosci. 2022; 16:808398.

PMID: 35273474 PMC: 8902496. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.808398.

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