Hamidreza Goldouzi - Resident, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Javad Akhondian - Professor, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mehran Beiraghi Toosi - Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hassan Mehrad Majd - Assistant Professor, Molecular Medicine, Research and Development Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Amin Saeidinia - Resident, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is thought to be the most common cause of serious physical disability in childhood. It is a persistent motor disorder that appearing before theage of ۳ years. This group of children is at risk for sleep disorders. This disorder can have a negative impact on both the children and their families. In recent years, the use ofmelatonin as a safe, effective and inexpensive drug for the improvement of sleep disorders has been expanding to in this children. The aim of this study was to investigatethe effect of melatonin on sleep disturbances (the onset and duration time of night sleep) in children with cerebral palsy. Method: In this case-control study ۵۰ CP children (aged ۲ to ۱۲ years old) with sleep disorders referred to Pediatric Neuroscience Clinic of Ghaem hospital were randomized into the intervention (melatonin ۳ mg) and control (lactose ۳ mg as placebo) groups for one month. The medications were administered ۳۰ minutes before bedtime. Details of patients' sleep quality were assessed by Actigraphy method. The effect of treatment on sleep quality was compared between the two groups. Results: According to our results no significant relationship was found in sleep disorders and age and gender of children with cerebral palsy (P-Value>۰/۰۵). The effect of melatonin on sleep disorders in children with cerebral palsy has been significant and positive (۰.۰۰۱>). Melatonin reduced the sleep onset while increased the duration of sleep. Conclusions: According to our findings, sleep disorders are very common among children with cerebral palsy. In addition, melatonin is effective in improving sleep in CP children.

Cerebral Palsy, Melatonin, Sleep Disorders.