Greco, Francesca;
Carollo, Alessandro;
Esposito, Gianluca;
Mangar, Stephen;
Dimitriou, Dagmara;
(2025)
A scientometric analysis investigating melatonin and cortisol in the context of sleep in autism.
Research in Autism
, 127
, Article 202664. 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202664.
![[thumbnail of Dimitriou_1. Scientometric analysis Greco et al FINAL 10 APR 2025[25].pdf]](https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Dimitriou_1. Scientometric analysis Greco et al FINAL 10 APR 2025[25].pdf Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 26 January 2027. Download (628kB) |
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are extensively reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) but the nature of this association is, to date, unclear. This study uses a scientometric methodology to explore the role of two key biological factors, namely melatonin and cortisol, including its precursor adrenocorticotropic hormone on sleep. Six hundred and thirty-four papers were retrieved from Scopus. A co-citation analysis was carried out, from which ten thematic clusters were identified and discussed chronologically, these were: “Epilepsy” (average year of publication = 1998), “Biology of sleep” (average year of publication = 2001), “Paediatric sleep” (average year of publication = 2001), “Sleep in ASD” (average year of publication = 2003), “Co-occurring conditions” (average year of publication = 2007), “Psychopharmacology, ASD and sleep” (average year of publication = 2007), “HPA-axis dysregulation” (average year of publication = 2009), “Use of melatonin for sleep disturbances in ASD” (average year of publication = 2013), “Safety of melatonin medications for sleep in ASD” (average year of publication = 2015), “Disturbed sleep in children, a symptom in a bigger picture” (average year of publication = 2016). Detailed analysis of each cluster indicated that the association between ASD and sleep is complex and multifactorial. As such, two main areas for future research were identified: (a) the need for larger studies that allow stratification of the population to uncouple confounding factors (e.g. concomitant use of medications) and (b) the need for longer, longitudinal studies assessing melatonin and cortisol in ASD across development.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A scientometric analysis investigating melatonin and cortisol in the context of sleep in autism |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202664 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202664 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Autism, ASD, Sleep, Cortisol, Melatonin |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10214875 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
