Childhood-Onset Insomnia

No differences between childhood- and adult-onset groups were found on personality inventories, but those with childhood-onsets insomnia reported more evidence of possible "soft" neurological impairment.

Abstract

Twenty patients who had been insomniac since childhood were compared with 39 who had become insomniac during adult life. The childhood-onset insomniacs took longer to fall asleep, slept less, and showed excessive amounts of REM sleep without eye movements. Adult-onset insomniacs showed more restless sleep. No differences between childhood- and adult-onset groups were found on personality inventories, but those with childhood-onset insomnia reported more evidence of possible "soft" neurological impairment.