Behavior characteristics and security in sleep-disturbed infants treated with extinction

J Pediatr Psychol. 1992 Aug;17(4):467-75. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/17.4.467.

Abstract

Measured and compared the behavior characteristics and security scores of 35 infants (6-24 months) treated with extinction for sleep disturbance with those of 13 untreated and 15 normal sleep controls. There was no evidence of detrimental effects on the treated infants whose security, emotionality/tension, and likeability scores improved. The findings are congruent with those from a previous study with preschoolers and have important implications for the prevention of later behavior problems in sleep-disturbed children.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Behavior Therapy*
  • Extinction, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*