Sleep in children with anxiety disorders

Sleep disturbance has long been known to present as a symptom of anxiety disorders. However, the relationship between sleep and anxiety in children has gained growing attention over the past 20 years, with particular attention given to a potential longitudinal relationship and the need to examine underlying mechanisms that might link sleep and anxiety. The high occurrence of sleep disturbance amongst young people has also led researchers to ask whether they need targeted intervention. This chapter will provide an overview of our knowledge regarding the association between sleep and anxiety in children, the challenges with methodologies, and future directions.