A 15-Year-Old Girl With Sleep-Onset Insomnia and Poor Sleep Quality

Abstract

A 15-year-old girl was referred to us for sleep difficulties and restless sleep. The parent stated that she was always a poor sleeper, having difficulty falling asleep and frequent nocturnal awakenings since she was a very young child, but in the past 6 months the symptoms had worsened. She slept in her own room and in her own bed. Her bedtime was 10:30 pm, staying in bed anywhere from 2 to 5 h before she could fall asleep. During this time, she felt discomfort in her legs with the urge to move her legs and relief after movement. This sensation was worse at night or when sitting for prolonged periods of time. Once she fell asleep, she woke up 2 to 3 times a night. She started her day at 7 am but felt very sleepy and often would fall asleep again until 10 am. During the day she was exhausted and often took a nap from 3 to 5 pm. There was soft snoring and no parasomnias. Her medical history was significant for beta-thalassemia trait. She was not on any medications. Social history included no dietary restrictions and no caffeine use.