SynthesisNeuropediatrics2023
Efficacy of Melatonin for Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Neuropediatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Anti-Aging Benefits of Phytoestrogens: Insights and Evidence.Current medicinal chemistry · 2026Pooled it
- Global research landscape in pharmacotherapy for autism spectrum disorder core symptoms: a bibliometric study.Translational pediatrics · 2026Article
- Exogenous Melatonin and Sleep Quality: A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews.Journal of clinical pharmacology · 2026Review
- Developing and Validating a Parent Guide to Improve Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Emphasis on the Holistic Approach to Self-Regulation Strategies.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2026Article
- Melatonin dose and timing: Do we have it right?CNS spectrums · 2025Review
- A Dual In-Person and Remote Assessment Approach to Developing Digital End Points Relevant to Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions: Protocol for a Multisite Observational Study.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- The Efficacy of Melatonergic Receptor Agonists Used in Clinical Practice in Insomnia Treatment: Melatonin, Tasimelteon, Ramelteon, Agomelatine, and Selected Herbs.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Sleep and psychiatric disorders: Bidirectional interactions and shared neurobiological mechanisms.PLOS mental health · 2025Review
- Pharmacological management of pediatric insomnia.Frontiers in sleep · 2024Review
- Adherence to treatment and parents' perspective about effectiveness of melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorder and sleep disturbances.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2023Article
- 2023 Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia in Adults - Brazilian Sleep Association.Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil) · 2023Review
- The Devastating Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory: Lessons from Rodent Models.Clocks & sleep · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in treating insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
methodsComprehensive searches were conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from their inception to April 20, 2022. Data were extracted and assessed for quality by two researchers. Statistical analysis was performed using the Stata 15.0 software.
resultsFour studies including 238 patients were included. The results showed that compared with the control group, melatonin could shorten the sleep-onset latency (standardized mean difference [SMD] = - 1.34, 95% CI: -2.19 to -0.48), reduce the number of awakenings (SMD = -2.35, 95% CI: -4.62 to -0.08), and prolong the total sleep time (SMD = 1.42, 95% CI: 0.5-2.33) in children with ASD.
conclusionMelatonin has a certain effect on relieving sleep disturbances in children with ASD, which can shorten sleep latency, reduce the number of awakenings, and prolong total sleep time. Larger studies are required to verify this hypothesis.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.