学龄前儿童的睡眠障碍与精神行为问题的研究进展
Research Progress on Sleep Disorders and Psycho-Behavioral Problems in Preschool Children
DOI: 10.12677/acm.2026.1631174, PDF, HTML, XML,   
作者: 徐 颖*, 黄瑀涵:重庆医科大学附属儿童医院麻醉科,国家儿童青少年健康与疾病临床研究中心,教育部儿童发育与疾病重点实验室,重庆市儿童神经发育与认知障碍重点实验室,重庆
关键词: 睡眠障碍学龄前儿童精神行为问题内化与外化症状关联机制Sleep Disorders Preschool Children Psycho-Behavioral Problems Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms Association Mechanism
摘要: 学龄前期是睡眠结构成熟化与精神心理发育塑型的关键窗口期,二者呈现双向调控、相互影响的动态关联。正常的睡眠结构与时长是精神心理发育的生理基础。现有临床研究证实,学龄前睡眠异常与情绪障碍、行为问题、社交发育异常密切相关,且其影响具有累积性,若未及时干预,部分异常表现会延续至学龄期甚至青少年期。本文依据国际睡眠障碍分类,系统梳理学龄前儿童的主要睡眠障碍类型、流行病学与核心临床特征,探讨不同类型睡眠障碍的潜在机制,分析其与精神行为问题之间可能的内在关联,为更深入地理解儿童睡眠障碍的潜在机制提供线索,并总结常见的干预策略,为临床精准防控儿童及青少年人群的精神心理疾病及基础研究探寻新的方向。
Abstract: The preschool period represents a critical window for the maturation of sleep architecture and the shaping of psychosocial development, with these two processes exhibiting a dynamic association of bidirectional regulation and mutual influence. Normal sleep architecture and duration serve as the physiological foundation for psychosocial development. Current clinical studies have confirmed that sleep abnormalities in preschool children are closely associated with emotional disorders, behavioral problems and social developmental anomalies in childhood, and the resulting impairments are cumulative. Without timely intervention, some abnormalities may persist into school age and even adolescence. Based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, this paper systematically reviews the main types, epidemiology and core clinical features of various sleep disorders in preschool children, explores the potential mechanisms underlying different types of sleep disorders, and analyzes the possible intrinsic associations with psycho-behavioral problems. It aims to provide clues for a deeper understanding of the potential mechanisms of childhood sleep disorders, and summarize common intervention strategies, so as to explore new directions for the clinical precise prevention and control of psycho-behavioral disorders in children and adolescents as well as basic research.
文章引用:徐颖, 黄瑀涵. 学龄前儿童的睡眠障碍与精神行为问题的研究进展[J]. 临床医学进展, 2026, 16(3): 3657-3668. https://doi.org/10.12677/acm.2026.1631174

1. 引用

睡眠是人类发展的基石[1],儿童睡眠健康贯穿儿童生长发育全程,受到了日益广泛的关注[2]。美国睡眠医学会(American Academy of Sleep Medicine, AASM)的实践指南指出,儿童睡眠问题的评估需结合其发育阶段及潜在共病[3]。学龄前期是情绪调节能力发展的关键期,也是睡眠障碍的高发期,其患病率约为25%~40%,一项针对中国学龄前儿童的纵向研究发现,睡眠困扰的总体患病率在入学初年为41.3%,至毕业年降至31.5% [4],若未得到及时干预,这类问题会使儿童在多个领域面临长期损害风险,包括情绪及其调节、神经认知功能及行为表现[4] [5]

学龄前儿童的睡眠发育呈现显著的年龄特征,其睡眠结构与昼夜节律随年龄增长逐渐稳定。3~6岁儿童每日推荐睡眠时间为10~13小时,其中非快速眼动(Non-rapid eye movement, Non-REM)睡眠占比约75%~80%,慢波睡眠(Slow wave sleep, SWS)作为深度睡眠的核心阶段,对大脑发育、记忆巩固及能量恢复至关重要,此阶段占比随年龄增长从20%逐步降至15%;快速眼动(Rapid eye movement, REM)睡眠占比维持在20%~25%,该阶段与情绪调节、大脑功能成熟密切相关。

昼夜节律调控系统在学龄前阶段趋于稳定,褪黑素分泌呈现明显的昼夜波动,6月龄后分泌水平稳定,为规律睡眠模式的建立奠定基础,但此阶段儿童睡眠极易受外界环境干扰,睡眠碎片化、就寝困难等问题频发[6]

学龄前儿童正处于自我认知、情绪调节及社会交往能力形成的关键期。3岁起儿童逐渐发展出基本的情绪识别能力,能表达喜悦、焦虑等基础情绪,但情绪调节机制尚未成熟,易出现情绪波动;4~6岁儿童的注意力持续时间逐步延长,抽象思维萌芽,开始建立初步的社交关系,形成简单的行为规范认知。此阶段大脑可塑性极强,前额叶皮层、海马体及边缘系统等与情绪、认知相关的脑区快速发育。睡眠作为脑发育的重要调控因素,其质量直接影响神经突触修剪、神经递质平衡及脑功能完善,睡眠问题可能通过干扰上述过程,诱发或加重儿童的情绪及行为障碍。

上海儿童医学中心在基于学龄前儿童的纵向研究中指出:睡眠障碍和心理健康问题在童年时期高度共病且双向相关[4]。目前已有很多研究完成了睡眠障碍与情绪及行为问题的相互关系的验证。例如,失眠会增加抑郁和焦虑的风险,而情绪问题会导致睡眠质量进行性下降[7]。学龄前儿童的睡眠问题与内化(如焦虑、抑郁)、外化(如冲动、攻击行为)行为障碍之间均存在显著的双向关联[8],Rebecca等人追踪了10,313名童年晚期–青春期人群(9至13岁),得出了相似的结论[5],并提出睡眠模式的变化能够预测后期内化与外化症状的风险。

2. 儿童常见的睡眠障碍及其与精神行为问题的联系

2.1. 行为性失眠(Insomnia)

行为性失眠是儿童最常见的睡眠障碍[9]-[11],一项在沙特阿拉伯开展的横断面研究显示儿童就寝抵抗的发病率高达70.3%,入睡延迟为58.1% [12]。从广义上讲,儿童行为性失眠的国际公认定义可理解为与成人相似(例如显著入睡困难或维持睡眠困难);然而在临床症状方面,儿童行为性失眠最常见的表现是因后天习得性因素导致抗拒就寝、“熄灯后”难以入睡,或频繁/持续性夜间觉醒需要父母干预[13]、醒来后感到疲惫等症状,在低龄儿童中尤为常见。其直接影响不仅体现在儿童的行为问题及日间功能受损,并可能增加监护人的压力,进而诱发其睡眠问题。已有多项研究报道了儿童睡眠障碍对父母及家庭压力与功能的间接负面影响[14]

失眠导致的睡眠碎片化及睡眠不足直接损害前额叶功能,导致注意力、行为抑制和冲动控制能力下降,与多动、攻击性等外化行为相关[15],还会损害前额叶皮层对边缘系统(如杏仁核)的调控功能,降低情绪调节能力,从而易引发焦虑、抑郁等内化问题[16]

2.2. 睡眠呼吸障碍(Sleep-Disordered Breathing, SDB)

学龄前儿童睡眠呼吸障碍的患病率约为4.4%~4.5% [4],沙特阿拉伯的一项问卷调查显示,SDB的患病率分别为轻度7.7%、中度5.7%和重度3.8% [17]。SDB的临床表现多样,但由于症状常不典型,临床易漏诊。其主要病因通常为腺样体和扁桃体肥大引发的上气道机械性阻塞。

儿童SDB的临床表现分为夜间与日间症状。夜间症状主要由监护人发现,打鼾是最常见的主诉,但并非所有打鼾儿童均合并阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(Obstructive Sleep Apnea, OSA);部分患儿可见呼吸暂停、喘息、张口呼吸、睡眠不安及无明确诱因的夜间多汗等症状。日间症状以行为问题为突出表现,如注意力不集中及情绪波动剧烈等;认知功能受损表现为学习能力下降、记忆力减退。与成人的日间嗜睡症状不同,SDB患儿常以过度活跃为主要表现,部分合并晨起头痛、口干,少数严重病例可伴随生长发育迟缓。

未经诊治的SDB会导致儿童的神经行为领域存在显著缺陷,其症状持续时间与行为问题的严重程度呈正相关,父母报告的患儿SDB症状出现越早、持续时间越长(通过SDBeasy评分量化),5岁时表现出的总体行为问题分数越高[18]。且即使轻度的SDB也可能导致情绪及行为问题[19]

SDB的核心病理生理机制为间歇性低氧与睡眠碎片化。其特征性的低氧–再氧合循环生成大量活性氧,引发氧化应激反应,激活全身及中枢炎症通路,炎症因子破坏血脑屏障完整性,进而影响神经元功能及突触可塑性[20];低氧介导的海马体与前额叶皮层的神经元凋亡及神经发生减少将导致儿童行为问题(如注意力不集中) [21]

总体而言,夜间低血氧饱和度与不良的神经行为结局相关[22]。睡眠碎片化诱发的频繁微觉醒主要减少慢波睡眠,而慢波睡眠是记忆巩固、生长激素分泌及脑代谢废物清除的关键阶段,其缺乏直接损害脑发育与认知功能恢复[23];睡眠碎片化导致自主神经功能失调,交感神经持续兴奋,通过影响去甲肾上腺素等神经递质系统,加剧注意力不集中等情绪异常。

近年来先进的神经影像学研究发现[20],SDB患儿前额叶皮层等脑区存在的脑血流调节异常与外化行为严重程度呈显著正相关,提示SDB可能通过影响发育中大脑的血流灌注与氧合状态诱发神经功能网络连接异常。此外,SDB常合并哮喘、过敏等疾病[24] [25],部分合并症本身即有诱发情绪障碍的风险[26]

2.3. 异态睡眠(Parasomnia)

以夜惊为主的Non-REM相关异态睡眠是学龄前儿童中最常见的异态睡眠类型,表现为从慢波睡眠中突然惊醒,伴强烈恐惧、尖叫及自主神经兴奋,对父母的安抚通常无反应或反应微弱,事后无法回忆[27]。发作一般持续数秒至数分钟,可自行继续入睡[28]。夜惊在幼儿期极为常见。12至36月龄幼儿的夜惊患病率介于16.7%至20.5%之间[29]。异态睡眠的总体患病率在入学初约为11.5%,至毕业年(学龄前阶段末)降至约6.7% [4]

夜惊与儿童的情绪行为问题,特别是内化问题(如焦虑、抑郁、躯体主诉)存在关联[28] [29]。传统观念认为夜惊是良性的、随年龄增长会自愈的发育现象,大多数在幼儿期经历夜惊的儿童,其症状会在5岁左右自然消失。但近期的纵向研究提出幼儿期夜惊的高频发作,可预测4~5岁阶段的内化问题风险增加,该关联不受性别、家庭社会经济地位、母亲抑郁症状及夜间睡眠时长等因素的影响,说明夜惊可能并非良性现象,而是早期情绪调节困难的标志[29]

夜惊发生于Non-REM深睡期(N3期),其频繁发生会破坏睡眠的连续性与恢复功能。睡眠碎片化及深度睡眠不足会损害前额叶皮质对杏仁核等情绪脑区的调控功能,导致儿童日间情绪调节能力下降,易出现焦虑、退缩等内化症状[29]。此外,夜惊发作时伴有显著的自主神经激活,表明应激系统被过度激发。长期、反复的激活使儿童处于高生理唤醒状态,从而提升焦虑和情绪敏感的易感性。

梦魇是发生在REM睡眠期的主要异态睡眠类型,可发生于各年龄段。偶发梦魇在幼儿中很常见,但达到“梦魇障碍”诊断标准者较少。梦魇表现为儿童因做内容恐怖、生动的噩梦而完全惊醒,醒后能清晰回忆梦境,并因此感到强烈的恐惧、焦虑或悲伤,惊醒后通常能迅速恢复定向力并主动寻求父母安抚[30]

梦魇本身就会导致显著的痛苦,并可能影响日间情绪、注意力和行为。若与未处理的创伤或焦虑障碍相关,症状可能持续更久。反复的梦魇可能与海马‑杏仁核‑前额叶回路的功能失调有关,导致恐惧记忆处理异常、负面情绪强化[31]

儿童因害怕夜惊或梦魇发作出现就寝抵抗、入睡困难等行为问题。持续的睡眠相关条件性恐惧可泛化为日间的广泛性焦虑,进一步加剧内化症状[29]

2.4. 昼夜节律睡眠–觉醒障碍(Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders, CRSWD)

学龄前儿童的昼夜节律睡眠–觉醒障碍的核心特征是内源性生物节律与外部社会时间表的失调,表现为睡眠–觉醒时间与社会常规要求严重不匹配[32]

在未合并其它神经发育疾病的儿童中,睡眠时相延迟综合征(Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, DSPS)是最常见的CRSWD类型,虽多见于青少年,但幼儿亦可出现。表现为夜间清醒、顽固性晚睡、晨起唤醒困难,伴日间嗜睡、易怒等问题[33]

CRSWD与生物钟失调有关。位于下丘脑视交叉上核的生物钟节律紊乱可导致氧化–抗氧化系统失衡(如MDA升高、SOD降低),产生氧化应激,损伤发育中的大脑神经元,干扰调控情绪的杏仁核与负责冲动抑制的前额叶皮层的正常功能,致使情绪不稳定、冲动控制能力下降和焦虑抑郁易感性增加[34]。CRSWD的独特机制涉及褪黑素分泌节律异常,伴下丘脑–垂体–肾上腺轴功能异常,皮质醇分泌节律改变,睡眠启动和维持受到干扰,应激敏感性增加[35]

核心时钟基因(BMAL1、CLOCK、PER、CRY等)表达紊乱是CRSWD的分子基础。在动物模型中,这些基因的异常不仅直接导致睡眠-觉醒节律紊乱,还通过调节RORα等通路影响小胶质细胞极化,加剧神经炎症,损害神经功能和行为调控[36] [37]

2.5. 睡眠相关运动障碍(Sleep-Related Movement Disorders, SRMDs)

SRMDs是在睡眠期间或睡眠-觉醒过渡期发生的、以简单、刻板、重复性动作为主要特征的运动障碍,临床上以不宁腿综合征(restless legs syndrome, RLS)最为常见。基于客观多导睡眠图,学龄前儿童中SRMDs的患病率约为2.87% [38]。其发病具有一定的遗传易感性[39]。部分儿童的睡眠运动问题会持续至学龄期,纵向研究显示其持续率约为9%~10% [40]

频繁的节律运动导致睡眠质量下降和睡眠碎片化,损害前额叶皮层功能,降低情绪调节和执行功能,从而增加内化与外化行为的风险。持续的SRMDs对中枢神经系统的发育和情绪调节网络带来的持续负面影响将导致童年后期甚至青春期更显著的外化及内化症状[40]。部分运动障碍(如节律性运动)与Non-REM睡眠期间的微觉醒相关,可能反映皮层下结构(如脑干、丘脑)对运动皮层的异常驱动,或与睡眠惊恐等觉醒障碍共享神经生理基础。这种皮层下系统的异常激活干扰了睡眠-觉醒转换的神经环路,导致白天情绪调节不稳和行为控制困难[41]

根据AASM制定的睡眠障碍分类标准,中枢性嗜睡症是一类相对罕见的睡眠障碍性疾病。该病的发病高峰主要集中于青春期,约15岁左右;部分病例在学龄前即可起病[42],但由于学龄前儿童的临床症状缺乏特异性、诊断难度较高,该病在该年龄段易发生明显漏诊或误诊,造成其流行病学数据存在局限性。目前,临床上尚无针对学龄前儿童中枢性嗜睡症的大规模流行病学调查及患病率研究。因此,在临床实践中,需严格参照最新临床指南规范诊疗流程,以提高该病的早期识别率,减少漏诊、误诊情况的发生。

针对学龄前群体中枢性嗜睡症与内化/外化症状的相关性研究仍待开展,相关机制目前多基于该病的分子生物学研究基础进行推测。中枢性嗜睡症的核心病理机制是睡眠–觉醒调节中枢的神经化学失衡:其中发作性睡病1型以下丘脑分泌素系统功能不全或缺失为主要特征,特发性嗜睡症则常伴随γ-氨基丁酸能神经传递异常。值得注意的是,这类REM睡眠调节异常,会进一步削弱杏仁核与前扣带回皮层之间的功能连接,进而加剧个体的情绪处理障碍[43],这也为后续探索其与内化/外化症状的潜在关联提供了初步的病理依据,未来仍需针对性开展学龄前群体的专项研究,完善机制研究与临床关联证据。

3. 外部因素对学龄前儿童的昼夜节律与行为的影响

3.1. 昼夜节律的形成

人体昼夜节律是在视交叉上核(Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, SCN)主导下,由细胞内的分子反馈环路自主产生,并主要通过光信号与环境周期同步而形成的精密计时系统。

位于下丘脑的SCN是人体内源性昼夜节律系统的“起搏器”。节律的产生依赖于细胞内的分子振荡器。其核心是一个转录–翻译反馈环,此翻译环能够形成周期约为24小时的自主振荡[44] [45]

内源性生物钟的周期(人类平均略长于24小时)需要与自然环境的24小时同步。光是最主要的授时因子。视网膜中的内在光敏视网膜神经节细胞感知光线,通过视网膜–下丘脑束将信号直接传递至SCN产生光信号,进而调整SCN时钟基因的表达相位,使内部节律与外界明暗周期同步化[45]

3.2. 常见的社会因素对昼夜节律的影响

随着电子设备的发展、娱乐模式转化、学业繁重及升学的压力,儿童夜间(尤其是睡前)常经历高强度、短波长光的暴露,日间规律性的自然强光暴露反而显著减少,儿童脆弱的昼夜节律系统因为外界光的改变出现紊乱,导致相位延迟、睡眠启动困难等睡眠障碍,从而诱发一系列日间的精神行为问题。保障学龄前儿童的睡眠健康,需要特别关注其全天候的外界光照环境管理。

3.2.1. 夜间光线暴露导致生物钟相位延迟

晚间使用发光屏幕(如平板电脑、手机)或处于较亮的室内光照下,是干扰儿童昼夜节律的核心因素。夜间电子屏幕释放的450~490 nm短波蓝光,通过视网膜作用于视交叉上核,强效抑制松果体褪黑素分泌,导致其昼夜节律相位延迟,表现为入睡延迟、睡眠潜伏期延长、睡眠总时长缩短。3~6岁儿童每增加1小时屏幕时间,睡眠时长减少约10~12分钟,睡眠障碍风险上升12% [46]。与观看电视相比,使用便携式电子设备(手机、平板)与更晚的就寝时间关联更强,表明近距离、互动性的屏幕暴露对睡眠习惯的影响更为突出[47]

3.2.2. 光与褪黑素分泌

因晶状体透明度较成人更高,儿童的昼夜节律系统对夜间光线异常敏感。在相同光照条件下,儿童所经历的褪黑素抑制比例可达成年人的近两倍[48],意味着在成年人感觉适中的室内夜间光照下,学龄前儿童的生物钟仍会受到强烈的干扰作用,导致入睡困难。

3.2.3. 睡眠时间推迟与昼夜节律紊乱形成恶性循环

现代生活方式常导致儿童就寝时间推迟。较晚的就寝时间本身与延迟的生物钟相位相关[49]。日间自然光暴露不足、夜间的屏幕使用挤占了睡眠时间、屏幕发出的光线进一步延迟生物钟,形成一个“晚睡–生物钟相位延迟–更难早睡”的负性循环,长期可导致睡眠不足和日间功能受损。

3.2.4. 日间光照模式改变削弱授时信号

除了夜间过度光照,日间光照不足或不规律同样影响节律稳定。内源性与外源性昼夜节律的同步依赖于日间充足(尤其是户外)的明亮光暴露。长期待在室内、缺乏规律性明暗交替的环境,会削弱最重要的环境授时因子,使得内源性生物钟难以稳固地锚定在24小时周期上,加重昼夜节律紊乱的风险[50]

3.3. 昼夜节律紊乱介导的儿童日间精神行为异常

3.3.1. 情绪失调与焦虑样行为

昼夜节律紊乱与儿童情绪不稳定、易怒及焦虑样行为密切相关,昼夜节律失调的儿童更易出现情绪调节困难[51]。紊乱的节律会直接干扰边缘系统(如杏仁核)的功能与结构。动物研究发现,早期生命阶段的节律扰乱会导致成年后杏仁核神经元树突结构简化,这与焦虑行为表型直接相关[52]。节律紊乱常与睡眠中断共存,而睡眠不足本身会削弱前额叶皮层对情绪反应的调控能力,加剧情绪波动。

3.3.2. 认知功能受损

受昼夜节律紊乱的影响,儿童表现出注意力不集中、工作记忆与空间记忆能力下降。昼夜节律紊乱直接诱发睡眠启动困难、睡眠片段化或睡眠不足,低质量的睡眠无法有效清除代谢废物,患儿可出现日间警觉度波动和嗜睡,削弱注意力维持的能力,并降低信息处理速度[53]。人体的关键脑区如海马体和前额叶皮层对节律紊乱敏感,早期节律扰乱会损害这些脑区神经元的复杂性和连接性,严重者可致长期的空间记忆与工作记忆缺陷。在ADHD儿童中观察到的皮质醇昼夜节律扁平化提示神经内分泌轴失调也可能参与认知与行为症状的产生[54]

3.3.3. 外化行为问题

“社会时差”(即生物钟时间与社会作息时间不匹配)是一种长期、慢性的节律失调,导致儿童在需要保持安静和专注的日间时段(如上午的课堂)处于生理上的“低谷”状态,反而在傍晚进入活跃期,行为表现为时间错位的多动与冲动[55]。此外,昼夜节律紊乱可能通过影响多巴胺等神经递质系统的节律性分泌,损害行为抑制功能[56]

3.4. 基于生物–心理–社会模式的睡眠与行为关系的中介路径探讨

3.4.1. 家庭教养方式:关键的心理中介

父母的消极心理症状(如抑郁、焦虑)会显著影响其教育行为。儿童自身的睡眠问题可能通过引发或加剧父母的养育压力,进而改变教养方式,最终作用于儿童的行为。照料者的拒绝、偏袒和严厉惩罚等消极教养方式将诱发儿童更高的冲动性和更多的行为问题[57];而母亲情感温暖得分与睡眠习惯问卷(CSHQ)总分呈负相关,能有效降低儿童睡眠紊乱风险[58]。因此,教养方式,尤其是其中涉及情感支持与纪律执行的维度,是睡眠问题影响行为控制的重要心理中介。在数字时代,教养方式还通过影响儿童的“数字素养”间接作用于行为。专制型教养方式可能限制儿童发展出健康、自律的数字使用能力,而数字素养的不足又与网络不当使用、社交问题等相关,这可能加剧或衍生新的行为问题。虽然该路径并非睡眠研究的直接焦点,但它提示了教养方式中介效应的复杂性,其影响可延伸至儿童适应现代生活的关键能力领域。

3.4.2. 父母睡眠习惯:生物–心理联动中介,实现睡眠行为的代际传导

生物钟具有家庭同步性,父母作为儿童的行为榜样,其睡眠习惯通过模仿效应传递给儿童,父母失眠可通过介导儿童失眠,间接增加儿童抑郁及冲动行为风险,68,751对亲子配对数据显示,父母失眠的青少年失眠及抑郁症状发生率显著升高[59]。父母睡眠障碍(PSQI评分偏高)与儿童睡眠问题(CSHQ评分偏高)、行为困难(SDQ评分偏高)呈强相关[60]。父母存在睡眠不足或睡眠紊乱时,其情绪调节能力、耐心和有效应对育儿挑战的认知资源会下降。

3.4.3. 家庭社会经济地位:通过资源分配影响睡眠-行为关联

家庭社会经济地位通过调控睡眠资源分配、教育投入等,间接介导睡眠与行为的关系,且在不同文化背景下呈现差异化影响。在我国中小学生群体中,较高社会经济地位(Socioeconomic Status, SES)家庭的儿童睡眠不足风险更高,高SES家庭对子女学业期望更高,参与过多课外补习、父母职业特性导致的晚作息均导致儿童睡眠时长缩短、昼夜节律紊乱,进而引发注意力不集中等行为问题[61]。而低SES家庭可能因住房条件差、睡眠环境不佳导致睡眠质量下降[62]。这种中介作用的差异性,本质是不同SES家庭在睡眠环境、教育资源、作息安排上的差异,导致睡眠与行为的关联强度及方向不同。

4. 诊断与评估

儿童失眠的诊断较成人更具挑战性。患儿几乎不会主动诉说失眠症状,通常依靠照护者对儿童睡眠模式和行为的观察来主观界定睡眠障碍。故6月龄前的婴儿确诊睡眠障碍的情况并不常见。不同年龄段儿童的父母在识别和报告睡眠问题的能力及意愿上也存在差异:婴幼儿父母更可能观察到并意识到睡眠问题,而学龄儿童和青少年的父母则相对较少关注。此外,必须参考不同年龄阶段的正常发育轨迹及相应发育标准进行睡眠问题评估,不同年龄段儿童的“正常”就寝行为、入睡时间及睡眠时长均存在显著差异。目前常用9种工具或方式对儿童睡眠障碍进行评估,包括7种常用的结构化量表:匹兹堡睡眠指数量表(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI)、婴儿简短睡眠问卷(Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, BISQ)、简式婴儿睡眠问卷–修订版–简式(BISQ-R-SF)、儿童睡眠习惯问卷(Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, CSHQ)、儿童睡眠障碍量表(Sleep Disturbances Scale of Children, SDSC)、青少年睡眠–觉醒量表(Adolescent Sleep-Wake Scale, ASWS)和查兹–坎贝尔睡眠量表(Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, RCSQ) [35];两种客观检查手段:活动记录仪(Actigraphy)和多导睡眠图(Polysomnography, PSG),其中PSG仍是诊断睡眠障碍的金标准[63]

5. 临床意义与干预策略

5.1. 临床意义

学龄前阶段的睡眠异常和轻度精神行为问题具有较高的可逆性,早期识别、联合评估、从根源上对儿童睡眠障碍进行干预,其价值不仅在于改善睡眠本身。

5.2. 干预措施

5.2.1. 行为睡眠干预

这是最核心的干预方式,尤其适用于幼儿和学龄期儿童。干预通常以家长培训为核心,内容包括建立规律的睡眠作息、设定一致的睡前程序、减少不恰当的睡眠关联(如需要家长陪睡)等。一项随机对照试验表明,针对幼儿的、以家长为中心的团体行为睡眠干预能有效改善睡眠问题[64]

5.2.2. 认知行为疗法(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT)

对于年龄较大的儿童和青少年,CBT被用于治疗失眠,其内容包括认知重构(改变关于睡眠的不良信念)、睡眠卫生教育以及行为策略(如刺激控制、睡眠限制)。CBT不仅改善睡眠,也被应用于缓解共病的情绪问题[65]

5.2.3. 针对特定群体的综合干预

对于患有注意缺陷多动障碍(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD)或自闭症谱系障碍(Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD)的儿童,睡眠问题尤为突出。文献强调,应将睡眠评估和干预整合到这些儿童的整体管理方案中,以同时改善其核心症状和共病的情绪行为问题[66]

6. 小结与展望

历史上,睡眠障碍被视为原发性精神障碍的后果[67] [68],其普遍性和影响程度未得到研究者和临床医生的足够重视。近年来更多的研究致力于探究睡眠障碍在触发个体精神障碍易感性中的机制与重要性。这将为改善精神疾病治疗及预防其初次发作开辟新途径。鉴于常见精神障碍的发育时间进程,儿童及青少年时期的睡眠障碍干预可能具有关键意义。成功管理年轻群体的睡眠障碍可改善其日间心理与生理功能,最终提升临床及心理社会预后。

NOTES

*通讯作者。

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