Abstract
Behavioral intervention by means of parental guidance has been achieving positive results in the management of insomnia in children. However, the effectiveness of such interventions in twins is questioned because parents share the care of two children of the same age and level of development. This is a case report of behavioral intervention for childhood insomnia in twins through a program for parents. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of such intervention on children’s sleep and daytime behaviors. The mother of the twins was instructed on the techniques of extinction and positive reinforcement in the management of children’s sleep problems. The results showed that after the intervention there was an improvement in the children’s sleep habits, sleep quality and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. The findings of this case report show the positive effects that an intervention based on operant learning had on children’s sleep and behavior. This highlights the importance of a greater inclusion of issues related to sleep in psychological studies based on preventive and intervention practices.
Sleep; Behavior; Child; Behavioral intervention; Twins
